· 29 August 2025, 09:03
**Newcastle United head down the A1 to face Leeds United in the 5:30pm kick-off on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.**
Leeds United won their first game of the season 1-0 against Everton, but have been brought crashing back down to earth with a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Arsenal and then being punted out of the Carabao Cup by Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
It was the nature of those defeats that Newcastle should look at for confidence here, as Eddie Howe's depleted Mags head into this game with a very different starting lineup.
Injuries to Fabian Schar, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, along with a suspension for Anthony Gordon, mean Newcastle will be much-changed, and that's what Paul Merson is leaning on with his prediction this week.
Longstaff will be wearing the white of Leeds this time around
Paul Merson thinks Newcastle will have to wait for their first win of the season
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In his [Sportskeeda](https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-paul-merson-predicts-liverpool-vs-arsenal-premier-league-gw3-fixtures) predictions column, Merson believes this is the ideal time for Leeds to face Newcastle, and as such, expects another draw for the Magpies.
> "Newcastle were outstanding the other day against Liverpool. But they got no points to show for that brilliant performance, which will be quite hard to take for the players. The bigger problem here is that they could be without Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, who both limped off with injuries in that loss to Liverpool. Alexander Isak is obviously missing and to make matters worse, his deputy at centre-forward Anthony Gordon is suspended!"If Newcastle had all of them players fit and available, they would easily win this game. William Osula came on and scored against Liverpool but I still don't think he's ready to start week in, week out in the Premier League."This is the perfect time for Leeds to take on Newcastle and they should try to make the most of it. Leeds will be disappointed about losing to Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup, that is a game they should have won. I expect a better result this weekend.
>
> "**Prediction**: Leeds United 1-1 Newcastle United"
Newcastle have a lot of reasons to be confident
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Newcastle will be buoyed by the imminent arrival of Nick Woltemade, who may have a slim chance of being involved tomorrow if Newcastle can get the paperwork filed before midday today.
If not, Will Osula grabbed a goal against Liverpool on Monday night and should be feeling ready to lead the line. Football is, after all, a confidence game.
Leeds were dreadful against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, so we have to back Newcastle to get the win here. Although let's be honest, what's likely to happen is that both Sean Longstaff and Dominic Calvert-Lewin will put in their greatest ever performances.