An up-and-down campaign came to a head on Saturday evening as the Magpies were subject to boos following their 3-2 defeat to Brentford at St James’ Park.
The team’s poor away form had been propped up by their home form for large parts of this season, but even the latter has fallen by the wayside in recent weeks having also lost to Aston Villa last time out.
As it stands, Eddie Howe’s side are as close to the Premier League relegation zone as they are to the top five, with 10 points the difference both ways, as well as being three points behind Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland.
United travel to Qarabag next week in the first-leg of their two-legged Champions League play-off. They face more than an uphill task if they are to be in the competition again next year.
In a world where statistics dominate the football agenda, British gurus Opta have emerged as the leading stat geeks in an increasingly crowded field. An official Premier League partnership - as well as the internet explosion - saw them become a trusted source for everything you never needed to know about the beautiful game.
Opta have predicted how the 2025-26 Premier League table will finish:
1. Wolverhampton Wanderers (20th) - 19 points
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2. Burnley (19th) - 26 points
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3. West Ham United (18th) -36 points
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4. Nottingham Forest (17th) - 42 points
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