Liverpool kick off their 2026/27 Premier League season with a trip to Newcastle on Sunday, and the Reds may be playing them at the right time.
Newcastle vs. Liverpool
Premier League (1) | St James’ Park
August 23, 2026 | 4.30pm (BST)
The Andoni Iraola era officially gets underway this weekend, with the Spaniard overseeing his first game as the Reds’ head coach.
It all starts with Newcastle at St James’ Park, in a fixture that has provided so much drama down the years.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of Sunday’s league opener.
1. A new era begins at Liverpool
It was sad to see Arne Slot relieved of his duties at Liverpool, but after a dire 2025/26 season his position became untenable.
In his place is Iraola, who worked wonders at Bournemouth, steering them to sixth in the Premier League last time around.
A more attacking, Jurgen Klopp-like brand of football is expected under the 44-year-old, but miracles can’t be expected from the off.
Fitness levels will have to improve before we see Iraola’s style of play fully thrive, as well as a clear change in tactics.
But the early signs suggest that Liverpool’s new boss is a classy figure with the potential to take the club to great new heights over time.
Iraola has confirmed that Alisson, Joe Gomez and Dominik Szoboszlai are his new vice-captains, but the No. 1 won’t wear the armband at any point.
2. Alexander Isak in for a tough return!
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This time last year, Alexander Isak was busy forcing through his record-breaking move to Liverpool from Newcastle.
Perhaps understandably, the Swede is no longer loved by Magpies supporters, which may be the understatement of the century!
On Sunday, Isak will return to St James’ for the first time since leaving – and he shouldn’t be expecting a warm welcome.
It will be a pressurised occasion for Liverpool’s most expensive signing in history, but the Reds need him to deliver.
He scored one and assisted one in three games in pre-season.
3. A summer to forget for Newcastle
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Newcastle United's captain Bruno Guimarães celebrates after scoring his team's first goal to make the score 1-2 during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Newcastle United's captain Bruno Guimarães celebrates after scoring his team's first goal to make the score 1-2 during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Since the end of last season, it’s fair to say that things have unravelled somewhat at Newcastle.
Eddie Howe has left as manager after five years in charge, and he has been replaced by relative unknown Matthias Jaissle from Saudi side Al-Ahli.
Meanwhile, key trio Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have all moved on, joining Arsenal, Tottenham and Barcelona respectively.
This isn’t to say that there isn’t optimism among Newcastle fans, but they feel far more unsettled as a club than they were.
4. Liverpool team news: Chiesa doubt, Gomez still out
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Joe Gomez receives treatment during a friendly match between Liverpool FC ans AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Joe Gomez receives treatment during a friendly match between Liverpool FC ans AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Gomez’s cruel luck with injuries continued in pre-season, and he will play no part in the weekend action because of a muscle issue.
The centre-back joins long-term absentees Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike on the sidelines.
On the plus side, Leoni is making good progress in his return from an ACL injury, with the Italian hoping to be back next month.
Forgotten man Stefan Bajcetic is also unavailable, while Curtis Jones has departed for Inter Milan.
Federico Chiesa is a doubt.
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This Is Anfield Prediction League
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5. Liverpool starting XI prediction
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz (R) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz (R) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Most of Liverpool’s starting XI at Newcastle picks itself, with only a few selection headaches for Iraola.
Alisson will join Jeremie Frimpong, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez in the back line, but who will partner the skipper at centre-back?
Jeremy Jacquet enjoyed an outstanding unofficial debut against Como last weekend, but loan signing Ronald Araujo may just have the edge.
Ryan Gravenberch and Szoboszlai should be in midfield – Alexis Mac Allister isn’t yet ready – with Florian Wirtz in his preferred No. 10 close to Isak.
Out wide, Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo are in pole position to start – here’s hoping another winger or two are added to Liverpool’s squad this month!
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
6. Newcastle team news
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Thursday, April 27, 2023: Newcastle United's Joelinton Cássio Apolinário de Lira helps to line-up the Newcastle United wall during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United FC at Goodison Park. (Pic by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Thursday, April 27, 2023: Newcastle United's Joelinton Cássio Apolinário de Lira helps to line-up the Newcastle United wall during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United FC at Goodison Park. (Pic by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Not only have Bruno and Tonali left Newcastle, but fellow key midfielder Joelinton is also out injured on Sunday.
Tino Livramento is another influential player who is missing – Kieran Trippier has moved to Wolves, too – having picked up a hamstring issue for England at the 2026 World Cup.
Midfielder Lewis Miley played his first game after a broken leg in a 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, but it remains to be seen if he starts against Liverpool.
Possible Newcastle XI: Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Steur, Miley, Ramsey; Barnes, Toure, Wissa
7. New Premier League rules
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Referee Darren England listens as VAR awards Manchester United a second goal despite a handball during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Man Utd won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 3, 2026: Referee Darren England listens as VAR awards Manchester United a second goal despite a handball during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. Man Utd won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Premier League has introduced plenty of new rules for the new season, including the following:
• Five-second countdown introduced at the referee’s discretion if too long is taken on a throw-in or a goal kick
• Substituted players will also have 10 seconds to leave the pitch – failure to do so will mean their replacement cannot enter the pitch for at least one minute
• A trial will be in place whereby if the game is stopped for a goalkeeper injury, the manager will have to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch immediately
• VAR can intervene to rescind when a second yellow card is given, but only when the card has been initially awarded on the pitch
• Referees will also be stricter when it comes to holding from set-pieces – something which became farcical at times last season
• Injured players will have to leave the pitch for one minute – it was previously 30 seconds for treatment in 2025/26
8. Liverpool’s record away to Newcastle
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool have loved a late winner away to Newcastle in recent years, including Ngumoha’s dramatic 100th-minute strike last season.
Darwin Nunez did something similar in 2023/24, sealing a 2-1 win, but a late Fabian Schar goal rescued a 3-3 draw for the Magpies in 2024/25.
In fact, Liverpool have only actually lost one of their last 10 visits to St James’, tasting victory in six of them.
That solitary defeat came back in December 2015, with Martin Skrtel scoring an own goal and Gini Wijnaldum sealing the win before joining the Reds the following summer.
9. Who is the referee for Newcastle vs. Liverpool?
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 6, 2023: Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta is shown a yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 6, 2023: Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta is shown a yellow card by referee Stuart Attwell during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Stuart Attwell will referee Sunday’s game, looking to avoid any early-season controversy.
The 43-year-old has taken charge of 31 Liverpool matches in his career, with the Reds only losing three of them, which bodes well.
Attwell’s assistants at St James’ are Constantine Hatzidakis and Lee Betts, while Tony Harrington is fourth official.
James Bell is assisted by Edward Smart in the VAR booth.
10. Follow the match with TIA
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Newcastle vs. Liverpool is live on Sky Sports Main Event – kickoff is at 4.30pm (BST).
TIA’s matchday live blog will be in full flow from 3.45pm, with Harry McMullen keeping you company throughout the afternoon.
Come on you Reds!