Newcastle United vs Brighton – Predicted Line-up, Stats, Preview And Prediction

Predicted Newcastle Line-Up To Face Brighton and Hove Albion

If you thought Newcastle’s game against Man City in the mid-week was big for them, then this one is absolutely gargantuan.

Failure to secure three points here will leave a very sour taste in the mouths of Newcastle fans as we head into the January transfer window, though we will definitely see a more attacking set-up than the one which was sent out to nullify Pep Guardiola’s side as much as possible.

Goalkeeper Rob Elliot has been ruled out with a thigh injury. He joins Jesus Gamez, Florian Lejeune and Aleksandar Mitrovic on the sidelines, but Isaac Hayden returns after missing the last two matches.

Mikel Merino is still missing, while out may go Chancel Mbemba, Javier Manquillo, Rolando Aarons, Jacob Murphy and Mo Diame in a much-changed 4-4-2:

Probable Newcastle XI

GK – Karl Darlow

With Elliot out injured, Darlow should start in goal against the Seagulls.

RB – DeAndre Yedlin

With little fear, Yedlin will need to get forward and support the attack as much as possible, especially if Ritchie plays.

CB – Jamaal Lascelles

The skipper will attempt to keep his cool and lead this back line to what would be the most crucial clean sheet.

CB – Ciaran Clark

Keeping the balance in what now looks like last season’s Championship winning back four.

LB – Paul Dummett

Nobody would have thought we’d be saying this a year ago, but the return of Dummett is one of the biggest things to happen to this team all season. Now that there is a proper left-back in the side, there will be much more balance.

RW – Matt Ritchie

Has been missing out recently but his quality on the ball is not in question and he may well come back into the starting XI.

CM – Henri Saivet

Did well after a slow start at West Ham and seems likely to come back into central midfield.

CM – Jonjo Shelvey

If he keeps his head, he’s a valuable asset, especially as the main vessel between the back and the front with Merino out.

LW – Christian Atsu

Did extremely well at West Ham in what was a similar game to this in stature. So he’s likely to come back in.

ST – Joselu

A favourite of Rafa’s, Joselu’s work rate is not in question and this will be a valuable quality in such a big game.

ST – Dwight Gayle

Took a dive the other night but otherwise has been in decent form. Should come back into the side against a Brighton team against who he looks capable of scoring against.

Stats

Head-to-head

• This is only the second top-flight league meeting between these two clubs – Brighton won the first 1-0 in September.
• The Magpies won both Championship meetings against the Seagulls last season.
• Brighton’s last victory away at Newcastle was in March 1992.

Courtesy: BBC

Prediction

Considering the form that both these newly promoted teams are in, I’d rather say that this is going to be a tightly contested affair.

Final Score: 1-1