Newcastle-West Ham is a match valid for the twenty-second day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 18:30: TV, formations, predictions.
That Newcastle have now entered another ‘dimension’ is proven by the fact that next 26 February they will have the opportunity to play for a title in a dry game for the first time in over twenty years. The Magpies won both League Cup semi-finals with Southampton, advancing to the final at Wembley where they will meet Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United in just over two weeks’ time.
Eddie Howe’s project is going full steam ahead, and lifting a trophy not even a year and a half after the club was bought by the wealthy Saudi owners would be a minor technical masterpiece. Yes, because sometimes it is not just money that makes the difference: Newcastle have undoubtedly spent a lot, but they have done it, building a team that is balanced in all departments by listening to the requests of the coach, one of the most prepared in the Premier League. The other dream of the Juventus fans is to qualify for the Champions League: an objective in which the Magpies environment is now beginning to seriously believe: after twenty matches Newcastle firmly occupy third place in the standings, on equal points with Manchester United and three points ahead of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham. In this round they will face Manchester City.
The possibility of stretching the lead is therefore concrete, as at St James’ Park comes West Ham, a team that is unable to replicate the excellent results achieved in recent, fortunate, seasons. The Londoners only moved out of the relegation zone on the last day, beating Everton 2-0 in a direct clash. They are for all intents and purposes fighting for safety, despite having been back in Europe for a few years now.
Ogbonna
Hammers, however, are marching on in the cups: in March they will be involved in the Conference League round of 16, while last Monday they won without any major problems against Derby County (0-2), advancing to the next round of the FA Cup.
The Prediction
Newcastle favourites despite the absence of one of their best players, Bruno Guimaraes. The Magpies haven’t lost at home since last April, they haven’t lost in the league since August, and they have not conceded a goal in their last six league games for what is still the Premier League’s least-beaten defence. Another win is likely in a game of less than three goals overall.
The Newcastle-West Ham line-up probables
- NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
- WEST HAM (3-4-2-1): Fabianski; Kehrer, Ogbonna, Aguerd; Coufal, Soucek, Rice, Emerson Palmieri; Paqueta, Bowen; Antonio.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
