Premier League football is finally back at St James’ Park, where Eddie Howe’s Mags kick off our 2024/25 campaign with a home clash with Southampton at 3pm today.
Keeping in mind injuries, form and pre-season, here’s the side we’re expecting to see…
Predicted line-up: (4-3-3) Pope – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
I believe Eddie Howe has three dilemmas going into this one. Lloyd Kelly or Dan Burn as the left-sided centre-back, Kieran Trippier or Tino Livramento at right-back, Anthony Gordon or Harvey Barnes on the left wing?
At centre-back, I think Howe will ease Kelly in and opt with Burn for now, who has played 348 pre-season minutes compared to Kelly’s 135. Schar partnered Kelly in our final friendly against Brest, but he has played alongside Burn numerous times.
To right-back, I think Tino will get the nod ahead of Trippier against his former club. He looks in great shape – he’s clearly been hitting the gym this summer – and is ready for a big season, while Trippier has only played 69 minutes of pre-season after a long summer with England and extended break.
On the left, Gordon strikes me as the sort of player who’ll be desperate to start – and I think he will. He’s only played 45 minutes over pre-season (45 minutes against Girona last Friday), but he’s had a full week of training and will be keen to prove a point after his frustrating lack of minutes at the Euros. It could be a big season for Barnes, but Gordon has to start down the left if fit enough.
