Chris Sutton has made his prediction for Newcastle United’s visit to Elland Road, where they face newly-promoted Leeds United.
Following late heartache against Liverpool at St James’ Park, Eddie Howe will be keen to get his first win on the board for the Magpies.
However, the fixtures do not get much easier, as a trip to Elland Road is in the offing for Newcastle United. Leeds United were subject to a 5-0 hammering by Arsenal last weekend, but anything can happen when a passionate crowd is behind them at home.
Eddie Howe confirmed that Nick Woltemade will not play against Leeds. The striker is set to complete a club record move to the Magpies before the transfer window closes on Monday, but the deal is not set to be completed in time for Saturday.
Paul Merson has predicted a draw between Leeds and Newcastle, but does Chris Sutton share the same view as the former Arsenal and Portsmouth man?
William Osula celebrates after scoring in a Premier League game between Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
Chris Sutton highlights a major Newcastle issue in Leeds United prediction
Newcastle are without a win in the Premier League this season, but Howe will be hoping the tide turns away from home on Saturday, and the first three points can be put on the board.
Joelinton will miss the Leeds game, while there is hope that Sandro Tonali will be fit and available for the bench at least on Saturday. Their issues mean that Jacob Ramsey will likely start for Newcastle against Leeds, while Lewis Miley will also be in with a shout of starting.
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While Howe’s updates were positive, Sutton does not believe that Newcastle will have enough to get past Leeds and believes the game will end in a draw.
“Newcastle were phenomenal against Liverpool,” he said on BBC Sport.
“But my worry for them is this: Sandro Tonali and Joelinton both went off injured last match and those two in midfield are an absolute force. I don’t know what taking them out will do to the team.
“Leeds lost 5-0 to Arsenal. They were thumped. Well beaten. But are they going to be a different proposition at Elland Road? They played with such great intensity in their opening game against Everton.
“There should be an asterisk for this one, really. If Tonali and Joelinton are fit, which I don’t think they will be, then Newcastle should win. But this has put me in a really vulnerable position as the BBC predictions expert – I don’t have all the data!
“With Anthony Gordon also suspended, I’m going for a draw, purely based on the fact that Newcastle won’t have any players.”
Sutton prediction: Leeds United 1 Newcastle United 1
Newcastle set for Sean Longstaff reunion against Leeds United
In July, it was confirmed that Sean Longstaff had left Newcastle to join Leeds for £15m, ending his 19-year stay on Tyneside.
Longstaff will go down as one of Newcastle’s best academy graduates for his contributions to the club, but it was clear he needed to leave after being reduced to a squad player during the 2024/25 season.
Having come off the bench in their first two games, Longstaff got his first start of the season against Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup. Unfortunately, the 27-year-old missed the decisive penalty to send his new club out of the competition.
Longstaff will be in with a shout of playing against his former side at Elland Road alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who also missed a penalty on his full debut for Leeds.
Calvert-Lewin was linked with a move to Newcastle, but it never came to fruition in the end.