Newcastle Can Still Dream Of Champions League Return

After a disappointing end to 2023 it looked like any chance of returning to the Champions League was highly unlikely for Newcastle United.
However, after a few important wins on the road, Eddie Howe’s side have shown their hopes of returning to Europe’s elite competition for next season are not over until they are over.

A Tough Spell To End 2023

Injuries certainly did not help the Magpies’ cause towards the end of 2023 and their results in the Premier League suffered as a result. The fixture list also didn’t do Newcastle any favours, as they had back-to-back league games against Liverpool and then Manchester City, who are 4/7 in the EPL winner odds to retain the English crown for a fourth consecutive season. Howe’s side put up a fight against both the Reds and the Cityzens but ended up on the wrong side of 4-2 and 3-2 scorelines respectively. Battling hard against two sides that are likely to be in the thick of the title race should hold the Magpies in good stead for the remainder of the campaign.

Following that narrow defeat to City at St James’ Park, in a game that saw Kevin De Bruyne inspire a second-half comeback from the European Champions, Newcastle responded with a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa. The Villans had managed to collect 28 points from a possible 30 from their previous unbeaten stretch at Villa Park but that impressive run was brought to an end thanks to a brace from Fabian Schär. The 32-year-old struck with two goals in the space of four first-half minutes to help Newcastle take a comprehensive lead in the West Midlands. Not only did the result end a four-game losing streak for the Magpies in the Premier League but also helped pull in another rival for a top-four finish.

Hope Remains For Champions League Return

It will require a significant push for the remainder of the campaign but Newcastle must believe they can secure a top-four finish and return to the Champions League for next season. While the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal are likely to claim the top three places, the battle for that fourth spot could go down to the wire. Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed an impressive start to the season but Ange Postecoglou’s side had their own significant dip in form at the end of last year. Aston Villa punched above their weight during the first half of the season but Unai Emery’s side have had a wobble at the start of 2024 with defeats to Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Red Devils have been struggling for consistency at times this season and the long-term future of head coach Erik Ten Hag is not exactly certain, especially with new investors at Old Trafford. Spurs, Villa and Man United will all have ambitions of claiming that fourth spot but with none of those sides being consistent at the start of the year, it offers Newcastle a chance of a top-four finish.
It has already been a season of immense highs and lows for Newcastle but the Magpies still have hope they can make a return to the coveted Champions League.