The Premier League weekend begins on Friday evening this week when Newcastle United play host to Leeds United in a pretty big Friday Night Football for both sides at St James’ Park, with both making slow starts to the season than they would have wanted.
These two sides are still searching for their first win of the campaign and if it doesn’t come along here they pressure will ramp up on whichever team isn’t fortunate enough to get it. That should give us a very competitive game.
Where to watch
The match will be shown in full on both the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League channels. The build-up begins at 7pm with the match kicking off at 8pm.
Newcastle United
It hasn’t been the desired start to the season for Newcastle United to say the least with just one point from four matches. They even threw two points away in the match they avoided defeat in having taken the lead in injury time against Southampton only to see the Saints level it before the end. The pressure is beginning to mount on Steve Bruce once again and a primetime clash with the eyes on the world watching is only going to intensify that if they fail to win here.
The first thing Newcastle need to sort out if they are going to start winning matches is the amount of goals they are conceding. Admittedly injuries aren’t helping them defensively but twice they have conceded four times this season and in the other two matches the opposition have scored twice against them. The good thing is that they have found the net five times in their four outings, so if they can sort that defence out they should be ok.
Leeds United
Leeds haven’t been much better than Newcastle this season. They have an extra point to their name courtesy of two draws but I don’t think a point against Burnley was what they were looking for. They come into this match off the back of a tame defeat to Liverpool where they didn’t show anything that they are about. That isn’t the first time this season they have offered little and the longer they go without a win, the more the talk about them suffering from a second season syndrome will get louder.
Leeds’ big issue is also their defence. They have leaked 11 goals in their four matches and that just isn’t a recipe that is going to win many games, regardless of how entertaining you play and how good you are to watch. The only time they have failed to score this season was against Liverpool though, so much like their opponents here, if they can solve their issues defensively then you would imagine they’ll soon be putting points on the board.
Special Offer
OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH 888SPORT AND BET £10 TO GET £30 IN FREE BETS PLUS A £10 CASINO BONUS! PERFECT OFFER TO USE ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE! CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO JOIN. USE CODE 30F. NEW ACCOUNTS ONLY. 18+ T&Cs apply (See image for significant terms). Gamble Aware.
Team News
Steve Bruce is likely to bring Karl Darlow back into his starting XI after Freddie Woodman made a mistake too many at Old Trafford last week. He also has Ryan Fraser back in contention but Callum Wilson, Paul Dummett and Jonjo Shelvey are all missing.
Leeds have a bit of a central defensive issue ahead of this match. Diego Llorente and Robin Koch were also missing this one because of injury but they are also without Pascal Struijk who is serving the first of a three-match ban for that unfortunate incident against Liverpool.
Betting
When you look at the defensive records of these two so far this season I think the natural thing is to expect goals in this match. One has shipped 12 in four matches and the other has conceded 11 in their four outings so there is a leak at the heart of both sides. In an ideal world for the over Callum Wilson would be available but Newcastle can still score without him, especially from set-pieces, while Leeds are full of attacking talent. I’m very surprised that the goal line for this one is as low as 2.75 goals but I’m happy to be on the over.
I’ll also have a small play on Jamaal Lascelles to score a goal. Liverpool exposed Leeds as being terrible at set-pieces last week although we already knew that anyway in fairness. That is the case when they are at full strength at the back let alone when they are missing potentially three centre-backs. Newcastle are a side who are a big threat from set-pieces and while Lascelles isn’t the only one who can score from that discipline, at 14/1 to find the net I would be surprised if we don’t get an effort at goal for our money.
Tips
Back Over 2.75 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.86 with Bet365
Back J.Lascelles to score anytime for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021
