Newcastle United suffered a 3-2 home defeat against Brentford that has left the Magpies in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Eddie Howe’s side went into the game looking to move on from last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Liverpool and their midweek Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat against Manchester City as their defence of a first major domestic trophy since 1955 came to an end at the Etihad Stadium.
The pre-match mood was raised by the news captain Bruno Guimaraes was back to fitness as the Brazil international took his place in the starting eleven. There was no surprise the former Lyon man was at the heart of the opening goal of the game as his corner kick allowed Sven Botman to head the Magpies in front.
However, it was the Bees that took a narrow lead into half-time as they hit back with a header from Vitaly Janelt and a penalty from top goalscorer Igor Thiago. Guimaraes got Newcastle back on level-terms with ten minutes remaining but it was the visitors that collected the points and rounded off a miserable week for the Magpies thanks to Ouattara’s winner.
The result meant United slipped to twelfth place in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday’s fixtures - but where are the Magpies predicted to finish in the table at the end of the season? We take a look at the final predicted Premier League table with the help of the stats experts at Opta.
Opta’s latest predicted final Premier League table
Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, shakes hands with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC at Emirates Stadium on May 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, shakes hands with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC at Emirates Stadium on May 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
1st: Arsenal - 82.76 points - UCL chances: 100.00%
2nd: Manchester City - 71.34 points - UCL chances: 92.58%
3rd: Aston Villa - 70.11 points - UCL chances: 86.19%
4th: Chelsea - 63.92 points - UCL chances: 44.92%
5th: Liverpool - 63.11 points - UCL chances: 34.67%
6th: Manchester United - 62.96 points - UCL chances: 32.56%
7th: Brentford - 58.13 points - UCL chances: 7.15%
8th: Everton - 53.69 points - UCL chances: 0.93%
9th: Bournemouth - 52.08 points - UCL chances: 0.29%
10th: Newcastle United - 50.95 points - UCL chances: 0.21%
11th: Sunderland - 50.76 points - UCL chances: 0.17%
12th: Brighton and Hove Albion - 50.67 points - UCL chances: 0.23%
13th: Fulham - 50.17 points - UCL chances: 0.09%
14th: Crystal Palace - 46.99 points - UCL chances: 0.00%
15th: Tottenham Hotspur - 46.28 points - UCL chances: 0.01%
16th: Leeds United - 44.24 points - UCL chances: 0.00%
17th: Nottingham Forest - 41.58 points - UCL chances: 0.00%
18th: West Ham United - 36.37 points - UCL chances: 0.00%
19th: Burnley - 25.90 points - UCL chances: 0.00%
20th: Wolverhampton Wanderers - 19.24 points - UCL chances: 0.00%
What did Eddie Howe say after Newcastle United’s defeat against Brentford?
Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe arrives ahead of kick-off in the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Brentford at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on February 7, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe arrives ahead of kick-off in the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Brentford at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on February 7, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The Magpies boss said: "I always feel under pressure. It's irrelevant to me, the type of pressure. When you're in this job, you're always in that moment: whether it's pressure to win, or to turn around results. We're very much in that (second) feeling. I always say the pressure I put on myself could not be more extreme. I demand really high standards from what I am doing and how I work, and what I ask the players to do.
"I'm obviously not doing my job well enough at the moment. I'm annoyed with myself, angry with myself, blaming myself, taking full accountability on my shoulders. No one else. There's a harsh reality for me. I think I have to think long and hard about - not my effort, because I can't question that - but I have to work better, do more. I have to take responsibility for everything you see on the pitch. I have got to work out solutions.
"I also of course have to ask the same of the players. I have to ask them to be really honest and look at their best levels, and judge them against that now in this current moment. I don't think there are too many who can say they are playing their best. That then gives us growth to improve.”
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