Newcastle odds to finish top four in the Premier League 2024-25: Predicted finish, signings, best players & full squad

Newcastle United went into the 2024-25 Premier League campaign hoping for a better year.

The Magpies defied expectations in 2022-23, finishing fourth to qualify for the Champions League. Last season, there was a question of how Newcastle would juggle the Champions League and the Premier League. The answer was not very well, as Newcastle were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage and finished seventh in the Premier League, missing out on European football.

So, now it’s about Newcastle returning to Europe. They do already have one gateway confirmed, with a spot in the Conference League as Carabao Cup winners. But they’ll be aiming higher going into the final weeks.

Latest Newcastle odds to finish in 24-25 Premier League top four

Newcastle’s transfer window business

Newcastle transfers in

Newcastle weren’t able to be as busy as they would have hoped in the summer transfer window with a lot of scrutiny and limitations on their finances. The Magpies did sign Lewis Hall on a permanent deal, after triggering the clause in his loan move from Chelsea last season. There were two free signings, while goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos signed for an undisclosed fee and William Osula arrived from Sheffield United.

Newcastle transfers in

There were two big-money departures, with Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh leaving for a combined £68 million. Newcastle also shed some players who had fallen out of favour, or weren’t in Eddie Howe’s plans, including Loris Karius, Matt Ritchie and Ryan Fraser.

Lloyd Kelly was one of their free arrivals but he’s already departed on loan to Italian giants Juventus, while Miguel Almiron was sold back to Atlanta United in January.

Who are Newcastle’s most important players?

Newcastle’s top Premier League Golden Boot contender: Alexander Isak

Last season, Alexander Isak truly announced himself to the Premier League. The Swedish striker had a decent first campaign in the competition with 10 goals in 22 games, but his impact was affected by an injury early on and a slow end to the season. But 2023-24 was the year of Isak.

Isak was one of just three players to hit the 20-goal mark in the Premier League last season, trailing only Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the Golden Boot charts. Scoring 21 goals in total, this was Isak’s best-ever season in senior football, beating his previous best of 17 goals in 34 games for Real Sociedad in 2020-21.

This season, Isak was a little slow getting started but has truly found his groove now. He sits on 23 goals from 33 games, only with only four coming from the penalty spot. While nobody is likely to catch Mo Salah in the Golden Boot race, Isak has a realistic chance of finishing as the league’s second-best marksman.

Newcastle’s primary playmaker: Jacob Murphy

Kieran Trippier was Newcastle’s most creative player in the Premier League last season, but Jacob Murphy has risen up in recent months. Although he sits fourth for chances created among Newcastle players with 41, no one has created more big chances than his 16.

Murphy has also provided 12 assists, with only Salah recording more across the Premier League as a whole. Again, he sits fourth among Newcastle players for take-ons completed and is more than happy to push down the wing to cause full-backs problems.

The Englishman leads Newcastle for Expected Assists too at 8.27, which places him eighth in the Premier League altogether.

Newcastle’s card magnets & top tacklers: Joelinton

Going into the season, many would have expected Bruno Guimaraes to be this man. And he’s still up there. But Joelinton has been the more combative midfielder. As part of Newcastle’s midfield three, Joelinton has practically covered every blade of grass in the Premier League this season. He’s won possession 149 times in the league, including 83 times in the middle third. He’s also made 57 tackles, the third-most among Newcastle players behind Guimaraes and Lewis Hall.

But Joelinton does sit top — or bottom, however you want to rank it — for fouls. He’s committed 2.17 fouls per 90 in the Premier League this season, more than any other Newcastle player. The Brazilian has also been booked 10 times, one of two Newcastle players (alongside Dan Burn) to hit double figures.

Newcastle’s rising star: Lewis Miley

Lewis Miley made his Newcastle breakthrough and had a long run of games in the first team, with impressive performances. But this will be the telling season. Although he is still young, this is Miley’s chance to show he can take one of the midfield spots in the future.

Last season, Miley played in all three midfield roles at least once, but he was used more in one of the outside roles, either on the left or the right of the midfield. Miley was utilised when one or both of Joelinton and Sean Longstaff were injured, and he more than thrived. Unfortunately, we’re still waiting for Miley to kick on due to injury, but his talent remains an exciting prospect.

Newcastle’s set-piece specialists:

• Penalties: Alexander Isak
• Free kicks: Kieran Trippier
• Corners: Kieran Trippier/Lewis Hall

Newcastle’s tactical analysis & formation

Newcastle’s team stats from the 2023-24 Premier League season (avg per game):

• Corners: 5.08
• Shots on target: 5.61
• Shots on target conceded: 5.32
• Offsides: 1.55

Newcastle 2024-25 player ratings

We used our Squawka Score to rank Newcastle’s players in the Premier League this season.

• GK: Nick Pope – 54% – Pope is the second lowest-ranked English goalkeeper in the league this season but in fairness, he has had some injury troubles. His 3.08 saves per 90 minutes puts him in the 40-60th percentile among Premier League goalkeepers.
• RB: Tino Livramento – 62% – It’s been another solid season of growth for Livramento, who has only lost 0.91 challenges per 90 while ranking in the 80-95th percentile among full-backs for clearances (3.04).
• CB: Fabian Schar – 63% – Schar continues to be a reliable presence at the back for Newcastle, while he’s also excellent on the ball. The Swiss centre-back has averaged 5.03 final third passes completed per 90, which puts him in the 80-95th percentile among Premier League defenders.
• CB: Dan Burn – 59% – Burn’s score suffers a little due to him starting the season at left-back but make no mistake, he’s been rock solid with 3.94 aerial duels won per 90.
• LB: Lewis Hall – 69% – Hall is now a fully-fledged England international and might well nail down that spot for years to come when fit. And with good reason, given he’s statistically the best English left-back in the league. His injury was a blow.
• DM: Sandro Tonali – 58% – Sandro Tonali started the season as a central-midfielder but is now playing in the deeper No.6 role. There his Score leaves a little to be desired, with 1.1 tackles won per 90 and 1.21 interceptions retaining possession.
• CM: Bruno Guimaraes – 65% – Gone are those early days of Guimaraes being a goalscoring midfielder. Now, he’s the all-action heartbeat at the base of Newcastle’s midfield, although he’s still managed five goals and four intentional assists.
• CM: Joelinton – 59% – Joelinton is an unstoppable powerhouse at times, but his score is dragged down a little by the volume of fouls and yellow cards against his name.
• RW: Jacob Murphy – 71% – Despite Newcastle’s riches, Murphy continues to be an unlikely hero in this Newcastle team. He currently has eight goals and 12 intentional assists to his name in the Premier League this season, while he’s in the 80-95th percentile for big chances created per 90 (0.64).
• LW: Anthony Gordon – 61% – Gordon has been one of the better players in the Premier League this season. He’s notched six goals and five intentional assists assists while averaging 5.3 touches in the opposition box and 1.36 completed take-ons per 90.
• ST: Alexander Isak – 81% – Isak is the highest-ranked striker in the Premier League according to the Squawka Score. That’s hardly surprising given his 23 goals and five intentional assists. But more than that, the Sweden international is in the 80-95th percentile across a host of key stats, including touches in the opposition box, non-penalty xG, intentional assists, open play goals, big chances created and conversion rate.

Newcastle have once again struggling with injuries at times this season and haven’t been able to consistently name their full-strength XI. But they have still been able to feature their biggest names.

Eddie Howe has used a very defined 4-3-3 system this season, with Isak flanked by Gordon and Jacob Murphy in his preferred front three. Sandro Tonali has held down the midfield, with Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes given a little more licence to roam, while behind him, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn have been the most-used centre-back pairing, thanks partly to Sven Botman’s injury layoff.

Despite some injury problems, Nick Pope is still the No.1, while on the flanks, English youngsters Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall bomb up and down the right and left, respectively.

Newcastle’s full Premier League 2024-25 squad

Newcastle FAQs

Where did Newcastle finish in the 2023-24 Premier League season?

Newcastle finished seventh in the Premier League last season, missing out on European football.

Who is the Newcastle manager?

Eddie Howe is the Newcastle manager, preparing for his third full season in charge after taking over in November 2021.

Who is the current Newcastle captain?

Jamaal Lascelles is Newcastle’s captain though Kieran Trippier wears the armband on the pitch often, as the centre-back has more of a squad role now.

What is Newcastle’s best Premier League finish?

Newcastle have finished second in the Premier League twice, in back-to-back seasons in 1995-96 and 1996-97, losing out to Manchester United both times.

More Premier League 2024-25 content:

• Premier League 2024-25 outright odds
• Premier League 2024-25 Golden Boot odds
• Premier League net spend