Football legend Ally McCoist has shared whether he thinks Newcastle United will finish in the top six of the Premier League next season.
The first game of the new campaign is just a few days away, with the Magpies making the trip to Villa Park to play Aston Villa on Saturday.
Newcastle United will be hoping to avenge the 4-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Unai Emery’s side in their last visit to the Midlands, even though they will likely be without star striker Alexander Isak.
Eddie Howe’s side have a tricky start to the Premier League season, with games against the likes of Liverpool, Leeds United and Arsenal all coming in the first six weeks. The hope is that Newcastle can start the season well, so fans can relax after following a turbulent transfer window.
Predictions for the 2025/26 campaign have been flooding in. Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves think Newcastle will finish fifth, but Ally McCoist appears to be less confident in Howe after a difficult summer.
Newcastle United players celebrate after a goal in a friendly between Newcastle United and RCD Espanyol.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Newcastle United not included in Ally McCoist’s Premier League top-six predictions
Gary Lineker said Newcastle will finish mid-table, but his call was likely made as a way of annoying club legend Alan Shearer, who believes ‘fifth or sixth’ is where his boyhood club will finish.
However, McCoist does not think Newcastle will be in with a shout of qualifying for the Champions League, or even the Europa League.
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Making his predictions with the Sun, McCoist said Tottenham will finish sixth, and Aston Villa will place fifth. He backed Liverpool to win the Premier League title, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City rounding out the top four.
Newcastle beat Villa to Champions League qualification last season, aided by their bitter rivals Manchester United. However, McCoist clearly thinks luck will be on the Villains’ side next term.
Newcastle United’s last five final Premier League positions ahead of the 2025/26 season
Next season will be a different ballgame for the Magpies, who will take part in the new-look Champions League league phase for the first time.
Newcastle will play eight Champions League games before the knockout stages, with a league table judging their fate rather than the traditional group stages, where just six games were played.
Season Final Premier League position
2024/25 5th
2023/24 7th
2022/23 4th
2021/22 11th
2020/21 12th
The hope is that Newcastle can carry their momentum from an incredibly successful 2024/25 campaign into next term and push even higher up the Premier League table.
Newcastle fans will also be eager to see more silverware make its way to Tyneside next season. The Carabao Cup was the first trophy won by Newcastle since 1969, so there is an expectation for more after recent success.