Premier League: Magpies Beware a Hammer Blow

Newcastle United vs West Ham United

The chase for European places is back on this weekend when Newcastle United and West Ham United meet in a tasty Premier League clash.

It’s tenth versus seventh with Eddie Howe’s Magpies four points behind David Moyes’ Hammers but with a game in hand, and the winner of this battle will take a big step forward in the race for a 2024/25 Europa League slot.   

It’s been a tough campaign for Newcastle, who have struggled with injuries and in the transfer market and, just before the international break they went out of the FA Cup in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, while West Ham United drew 1-1 at home to Aston Villa.  

It’s a Saturday 12-30 kick-off (UK time) and what better way to start the weekend’s sport?

Talking Points

Trippier back in contention for Newcastle

Howe’s injury worries have shown little sign of easing and Newcastle suffered another blow when centre-back Sven Botman injured his anterior cruciate ligament in the loss to Manchester City. The Dutch star is facing a long road to recovery, but there is brighter news elsewhere as Newcastle are hopeful that influential wingback Kieran Trippier could be ready to return against the Hammers.

The England man is a clever defender and a real threat in attack, making ten assists already this season and, after a short lay-off with a calf injury, he is back on grass and has had time to recover during the international break. A return for Tripper would be a huge boost for the Magpies who are still without striker Callum Wilson, midfielder Joelinton, keeper Nick Pope and now Botman. 

With home advantage the Magpies will try to get on the attack and star striker Alexander Isak is in good form, scoring when Newcastle faced Chelsea in their last Premier League game. Isak can rely on a good supply from the likes of winger Anthony Gordon who impressed on his full England debut against Brazil. Gordon has scored nine goals and made five assists for Newcastle this season, while attacking midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was in the Brazil line-up which beat the Three Lions, and he is always a potential match winner.   

Hammers back on track

After a difficult period in the New Year, which put Moyes under pressure (again) West Ham have got back to winning ways, with continued success in Europe and an improvement in Premier League 2024 results. The 2023 Europa Conference League winners hammered SC Freiburg 5-0 to qualify for the Europa League quarter-finals and they are unbeaten in four games, beating Brentford and Everton before drawing with Burnley and Aston Villa.   

Jarrod Bowen is having the season of his life. He was in Gareth Southgate’s England squad over the international break, coming on as a substitute against Brazil and then putting in a highly impressive performance against Belgium. Bowen has scored 18 goals and made seven assists for the Hammers in all competitions this season. His pace, distribution and eye for goal make him a crucial part of West Ham’s fluid attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation and, with Lucas Paqueta also on a hot streak of form, making six assists, and the lighting speed of Mohammed Kudus this is a dynamic three behind centre forward Michail Antonio. Bowen will raid down the right wing and Howe will have to decide which of his available left backs, Dan Burn or the recently returned Matt Targett, can best cope with the England man’s threat.       

West Ham’s pre-break clash with Aston Villa was another battle of Europe-chasing sides and only a late equaliser from Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo denied the Hammers another win; the East Londoners have momentum on their side.   

History

The Magpies have had the better of the head to heads in the Premier League era with 24 victories to West Ham’s 14 and there have been 14 draws, including a 2-2 stalemate at the London Stadium back in October as Isak grabbed a brace and Kudus scored a late equaliser for the Hammers.   

Moyes boys’ recent form has been better with three wins, two draws and one defeat, a first leg 1-0 loss to Freiburg, compared with Newcastle’s two wins, one draw and three defeats

Betting Tip

The Premier League 2024 betting odds say the race for European places will be fierce and West Ham and Newcastle will be in the thick of it; and that makes this match a crucial six-pointer.   Newcastle are at SBOTOP odds of 1.90 to win with the draw at 3.59 and West Ham are at 3.38; and while St James’ Park is a hard place to visit, the Hammers have a fully fit and in-form squad to face the Geordies and I think they’ll get a result. 

 

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