Ipswich Town will host Newcastle United at Portman Road on Saturday, looking to build momentum after their result last weekend.
Ipswich Town are 18th in the Premier League standings, and they need to start picking up points if they are serious about securing safety in the Premier League this season, with the upcoming game vs Newcastle United being a golden opportunity.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United bounced back from their winless run with a victory over Leicester City last time out. They also reached the EFL Cup semi-finals earlier this week, beating Brentford in their quarter-final clash. The Tyneside outfit will be chasing European qualification this season, and they need to win these games to finish high up the table.
Newcastle United are unbeaten in five of their last six meetings vs Ipswich Town, and they will be the favourites heading into this game. It will be interesting to see if they can grind out a good result here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town will be without Janoi Donacien due to an ankle injury. Chiedozie Ogbene misses out with a calf injury, while Axel Tuanzebe is unavailable due to a hand injury. Meanwhile, George Hirst has a knee issue. Liam Delap misses out through suspension.
The home side will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Arijanet Muric in goal. Ben Johnson and Leif Davis will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to keep things compact at the back and help out in the attack. Luke Woolfenden and Dara O’Shea will pair up at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Samy Morsy and Jens Cajuste will start in the double pivot, and they will look to win the ball back for their side and break up opposition attacks. Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson will look to add pace and flair from the wide areas.
Conor Chaplin will start in the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. Finally, Sam Szmodics will lead the line for Ipswich Town vs Newcastle United in the absence of Delap.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Muric; Johnson, Woolfenden, O’Shea, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Chaplin, Hutchison; Szmodics
Newcastle United
Newcastle United will be without Nick Pope due to a knee injury and Emil Krafth due to a shoulder injury. Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are out with long-term knee injuries, and Callum Wilson will miss out due to a thigh injury, although Botman is close to returning. Joelinton is suspended for this game.
Newcastle United will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Ipswich Town, with Martin Dubravka in goal. Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Lloyd Kelly will start in the central defensive partnership alongside Fabian Schar.
As for the midfield unit, Bruno Guimaraes will start alongside Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock in the double pivot. Tonali will look to win the ball back for his side and protect the defence, while Guimaraes and Willock will add creativity and drive to the side.
Alexander Isak will lead the line for Newcastle United vs Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday afternoon, with Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Kelly, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Key Stats
Newcastle United have scored at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League.
Newcastle United are unbeaten in five of the last six meetings vs Ipswich Town.
20 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
Both teams have picked up just two wins from the last six matches in all competitions.
Ipswich Town are the only Premier League team without a home win this term, drawing four and losing four of their eight matches.
Player to Watch
Alexander Isak
The Swedish international has been in outstanding form for Newcastle United this season and he will be our key player to watch out for. He will look to make his mark in the final third and punish a vulnerable Ipswich Town defence.
The Swede has scored 20 Premier League goals in 2024. Only Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer, with 26 and 25 respectively, have more. In addition, Isak has registered 10 goals and two assists in 11 top-flight appearances against promoted teams.
Newcastle United will need him to help create goalscoring opportunities and get on the score sheet. It will be interesting to see if Isak can continue his impressive form and find the back of the net here.
Prediction
Ipswich Town 1-2 Newcastle United
Newcastle United are the better team here, and they should be able to grind out all three points vs Ipswich Town. The home side are likely to put up a fight and make things difficult for the visitors, but the Magpies have enough quality in the attack to grind out a good result here.
Ipswich Town have conceded 28 goals in 16 league matches, and their vulnerable defence is likely to let them down here, extending their winless start at home this season. A narrow away win is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Eddie Howe and his charges.