LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Thursday, April 27, 2023: Newcastle United's Joelinton Cássio Apolinário de Lira helps to line-up the Newcastle United wall during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United FC at Goodison Park. (Pic by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Thursday, April 27, 2023: Newcastle United's Joelinton Cássio Apolinário de Lira helps to line-up the Newcastle United wall during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United FC at Goodison Park. (Pic by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Newcastle are short of options ahead of their Premier League opener against Liverpool, with Joelinton adding to Matthias Jaissle’s concerns with a new injury.
Joelinton was named Newcastle vice-captain at the weekend, but the news of his promotion came alongside a more concerning update.
New head coach Jaissle confirmed the Brazilian would miss at least two weeks with an unspecified injury, which rules him out of Sunday’s clash with Liverpool.
His absence comes after key midfielders Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes were sold to Tottenham and Arsenal respectively, while Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona earlier in the summer.
Newcastle are also missing right-back Tino Livramento due to injury and Kieran Trippier left on the expiry of his contract this summer.
File photo dated 25-10-2022 of Matthias Jaissle, who is the shock favourite to succeed Eddie Howe as Newcastle head coach. Issue date: Thursday July 30, 2026.
File photo dated 25-10-2022 of Matthias Jaissle, who is the shock favourite to succeed Eddie Howe as Newcastle head coach. Issue date: Thursday July 30, 2026.
That leaves Jaissle without many of the key players from Eddie Howe’s successful side, with the majority of this summer’s signings young and lacking Premier League experience.
Midfielder Lewis Miley, 20, played his first game back after a broken leg in Saturday’s 2-1 friendly loss to Bayer Leverkusen, but he is not expected to be in starting contention against Liverpool.
A double-header against Leverkusen and Strasbourg closed out Newcastle‘s pre-season schedule over the weekend – with Jaissle’s side losing both to end the summer with two wins from seven warmup games.
Those two games showed that Jaissle just about has enough senior players to field two different XIs but there will be fewer considered capable of starting in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s injury situation for Newcastle opener
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool, meanwhile, are without Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni, while Alexis Mac Allister played his first game of pre-season in Sunday’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Como.
There are doubts over Curtis Jones, who trained individually at the AXA instead of featuring in either game against Como, while Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns remain out.
A decision could be made over Victor Munoz, who has built up his minutes over the friendlies against Monaco and Como but may not be in line for a start yet.
But Andoni Iraola finds himself in a considerably stronger position than Jaissle ahead of Sunday’s 4.30pm kickoff at St James’ Park.
Predicted Newcastle XI: Hornicek; Shahar, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Bamba, Ramsey; Elanga, Osula, Toure; Wissa
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v Como 1907
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola gives final instructions to substitute Lewis Koumas (L) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Paris St Germain Training – Stadion Salzburg – Tuesday August 11th
Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola during a training session at Stadion Salzburg, ahead of the UEFA Super Cup which takes place on Wednesday. Picture date: Tuesday August 11, 2026.
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