On the one hand there is Newcastle, which is a candidate for the role of revelation team, almost an obligation after the huge investments of the very rich Saudi ownership. On the other, Nottingham Forest, one of the ‘fetish’ clubs of English football – much loved even outside the national borders because of the two Champions Leagues won in a row at the turn of the 1970s and 1980s – which will taste again the thrill of playing in the Premier League 23 years after the last time. One of the most interesting and exciting matches on the first day of the 2022-23 edition of the English Premier League is the one at St James’ Park.
The spotlight is particularly on the home champions, who have already spent around 80 million euros on the market after the more than 100 pulled out last January to ensure the Magpies a salvation that in the first months of the championship seemed complicated to achieve. But the merits of the ‘great comeback’ also lie with the young coach Eddie Howe, who has literally turned around the mentality of a team that in recent years had limited itself almost exclusively to defending. To reinforce the rearguard, Targett arrived from Aston Villa and Botman from Lille, the latter also long followed by AC Milan.
Europe is not just a mirage and this is confirmed by the important preseason victories against Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao. The Garibaldi Reds’ goal, however, is to stay in the top flight, and it could not be otherwise. The club’s moves, however, bode well: Nottingham Forest are preparing eleven new faces for their Premier League adventure, led by former Manchester United man Jesse Lingard, the most important reinforcement for coach Steve Cooper.
How to watch Newcastle-Nottingham Forest live TV and streaming
Steve Cooper ©️LaPresse
The match between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, scheduled for 4pm on Saturday, will not be shown on live TV or streaming. The rights to the competition are held by Sky, but the well-known platform has chosen to prioritise other matches.
The Prediction
Newcastle are favourites, but the Magpies may struggle to break down a Nottingham Forest defence that conceded very few goals in the Championship last year. It promises to be a closer match than expected at St James’ Park.
Newcastle v Nottingham Forest
likely line-ups.
NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Targett; Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (3-4-1-2): Henderson; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; N. Williams, Colback, O’Brien, Toffolo; Lingard; Johnson, Surridge.
