Newcastle (H) 2pm Sunday 8 Oct (not on TV)
Here come the Barcodes.
Eddie Howe has stuck with the 4-3-3 formation that was successful last season but despite all the Saudi money he doesn't seem to have a lot of depth to the squad, especially in the front three.
Last weekend CF Callum Wilson came off with a "tight hamstring" and missed the PSG game which leaves Alexander Isak as the only out-and-out striker, On the left Harvey Barnes is out for three months with a toe injury and Antony Gordon is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card in just seven weeks.
In a pinch Joelinton has played as a left winger but he only lasted 4 minutes as a second half substitute last weekend and also missed the PSG match. That leaves the option of switching Miquel Almiron to the left and giving RW Jacob Murphy his first start in the Premier League since April.
In the midfield Joelinton is doubtful while Joe Willock has been out with various problems since the end of last season and big summer signing Sandro Tonali (£55m from AC Milan) was dropped to the bench after four Premier League starts with 20yo Newcastle youth graduate Elliot Anderson preferred for the last three.
At the back CB Sven Botman has missed the last three games with a knee and has been replaced by club captain Jamaal Lascelles
Despite missing several key players they beat PSG 4-1
Most likely starting XI
Pope
Trippier Lascalles Schar Burn
Longstaff Guimaraes Anderson
Murphy Isak Almiron
Wilson and Joelinton will face a late fitness tests but otherwise subs will be from GK Dubrovka, GK Karius, GK Gillespie, CB Dummett, LB Targett, LB Hall, RB Livramento, RB Manquillo, RB Krafth, DM Tonali, RM Ritchie plus kids.
Newcastle's back four are dominant in the air but not particularly speedy. We've not beaten Newcastle at home since April 2019 when Rafa was manager but I think Moyes; tactics of defending deep and hit on the counter might be perfect for this one.
Eddie Howe has stuck with the 4-3-3 formation that was successful last season but despite all the Saudi money he doesn't seem to have a lot of depth to the squad, especially in the front three.
Last weekend CF Callum Wilson came off with a "tight hamstring" and missed the PSG game which leaves Alexander Isak as the only out-and-out striker, On the left Harvey Barnes is out for three months with a toe injury and Antony Gordon is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card in just seven weeks.
In a pinch Joelinton has played as a left winger but he only lasted 4 minutes as a second half substitute last weekend and also missed the PSG match. That leaves the option of switching Miquel Almiron to the left and giving RW Jacob Murphy his first start in the Premier League since April.
In the midfield Joelinton is doubtful while Joe Willock has been out with various problems since the end of last season and big summer signing Sandro Tonali (£55m from AC Milan) was dropped to the bench after four Premier League starts with 20yo Newcastle youth graduate Elliot Anderson preferred for the last three.
At the back CB Sven Botman has missed the last three games with a knee and has been replaced by club captain Jamaal Lascelles
Despite missing several key players they beat PSG 4-1
Most likely starting XI
Pope
Trippier Lascalles Schar Burn
Longstaff Guimaraes Anderson
Murphy Isak Almiron
Wilson and Joelinton will face a late fitness tests but otherwise subs will be from GK Dubrovka, GK Karius, GK Gillespie, CB Dummett, LB Targett, LB Hall, RB Livramento, RB Manquillo, RB Krafth, DM Tonali, RM Ritchie plus kids.
Newcastle's back four are dominant in the air but not particularly speedy. We've not beaten Newcastle at home since April 2019 when Rafa was manager but I think Moyes; tactics of defending deep and hit on the counter might be perfect for this one.
Comments
Alvarez is on four yellows after 8 weeks
Our next three games are Villa, Everton and Arsenal, hopefully he can arrange his bookings to be suspended against Everton
Howe said Wilson and Joelinton are "closest" to recovery but he didn't confirm that they would be available
If Wilson is fit to start then it could be...
Almiron Wilson Isak
Wonder if he wishes he'd held onto Saint-Maximin and Chris Wood?
We’ve beat Chelsea, Brighton, Luton, Sheffield United in the PL, two wins from two in Europe, into next round of League Cup & the three results this season we didn’t win we were 1-0 up at Bournemouth for 80 minutes, 1-1 with Man City for over 70 minutes & 1-1 with Liverpool for an hour. We have been so consistent so far. Would’ve been nice to have got something from one of those bigger teams, but they were currently the top two.
It will be interesting in the next two as I feel all our games have either been games we’ve been expecting to take points off or games we knew we were up against it. Newcastle & Villa I think sit in that 50-50 where we neither expect to win or lose.
Villa away will be really tough as their home form is ridiculous these days. But I'm sure we'll give them a game.
Areola
Coufal - Zouma - Aguerd - Emerson
Soucek - Alvarez - Ward-Prowse
Kudus - Paqueta
Bowen
If Antonio is out.
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Kehrer, Ogbonna, Fornals, Kudus, Cornet, Benrahma, Ings, Mubama
Unchanged from last weekend.
Maybe he'll be motivated against the team his mate plays for and we'll get one of his all too rare "beast" days.
Trippier Lascalles Schar Burn
Longstaff Guimaraes Tonali
Murphy Isak Anderson
Anderson not a natural LW