It is that time of the year again where the Premier League returns and on Sunday, Southampton will make one of the longest road trips in English football as they travel to St. James’ Park. The game also marks Steve McClaren’s competitive debut for Newcastle after taking over from John Carver in the off-season.
The two sides had contrasting seasons in 2014-15, with the Saints spending most of the first half of the campaign in the top four before fading to finish in a respectable seventh. The Magpies had a season to forget, narrowly avoiding relegation and only winning three games in the new year after manager Alan Pardew left to join Crystal Palace. Nonetheless, Newcastle survived and a new season represents the opportunity to start afresh. Newcastle will see this match as a chance to begin their revival while Southampton will look to lay the foundations for another season of progress with three points.
Key Battle
Georginio Wijnaldum vs Jordy Clasie
Both central midfielders share 30 caps between them for the Dutch national team (Wijnaldum 19 and Clasie 11), and the pair are new to the Premier League. Wijnaldum captained PSV Eindhoven to the Eredivisie title last season and was an instrumental contributor, scoring 14 goals from midfield. Clasie, a replacement for new Manchester United signing Morgan Schneiderlin, made 31 appearances for Feyenoord on the way to a fourth-placed finish and contributed two goals and five assists. Both will be eager to get their Premier League careers off to a flying start, and whoever stamps their authority on proceedings in a more commanding way may very well determine the outcome of the match.
Team news and Expected lineups
Newcastle pair Fabricio Coloccini and Remy Cabella are in doubt for the clash through injury while Paul Dummett has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. New signings Georginio Wijnaldium, Aleksandr Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba are expected to figure.
Newcastle (4-3-1-2): Krul; Janmaat, Mbemba, Taylor, Haidara; Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Colback; De Jong; Mitrovic, Cisse
Southampton quartet Gaston Ramirez, Florin Gardos, Ryan Bertrand and Fraser Forster are all out through injury. In a big blow to the Saints, gloveman Forster is expected to miss most of the season through a knee injury that kept him out at the back end of last season. New signings Martin Stekelenburg, Cedric, Steven Caulker and Jordy Clasie should make their debuts.
Southampton: (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg; Cedric, Caulker, Fonte, Targett; Clasie, Wanyama; Mane, Ward-Prowse, Tadic; Pelle
Head-to-head
Played: 90; Newcastle wins: 35; Southampton wins: 35; Drawn Matches: 20.
Previous meeting
Southampton won the corresponding and most recent fixture between the two, 2-1 in January. Two goals from on-loan winger Eljero Elia, either side of a Yoan Gouffran strike, was enough for the Saints to take the three points back to the south coast. The win also completed a first league double over the Magpies since 1994.
Prediction
This match looms as a fascinating battle as both teams look to kickstart their campaign with three points. Newcastle have made some very astute signings that should see them have a much improved season, but Southampton have a more settled team and on paper they are stronger out of the two. The quality in the Southampton side, coupled with the managerial expertise of Ronald Koeman, should see the Saints begin what will be another impressive season with a win.
Newcastle 1 Southampton 2.
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