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 climbing the table once more. But they’ve been given a 18.2% chance of finishing in the top four after the start to the campaign.

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Latest Newcastle odds to win the 2024-25 Premier League

Newcastle’s summer 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.

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.

Who are Newcastle’s most important players?

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

• Key stat: Alexander Isak hit the target with 43 of his 78 shots in the Premier League last season.

Last season, Alexander Isak truly announced himself to the Premier League. The Swedish striker had a decent first campaign in the competition with ten 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, Newcastle are still waiting for Isak to get up and running. There has been a recent absence through injury, but Isak has had a slow start. In five games so far, Isak has only scored one goal from 11 shots — only two of which have hit the target. But this is just a barren run, which all good strikers will go through.

Newcastle’s primary playmaker: Anthony Gordon

• Key stat: Anthony Gordon has created 15 chances in the Premier League this season, at least double the amount of any other Newcastle player.

Kieran Trippier was Newcastle’s most creative player in the Premier League last season, but Anthony Gordon has been their biggest threat this year. Forty of Gordon’s 57 chances created last season were from open play, the second-most in the Newcastle squad behind only Bruno Guimaraes. He also ranked second for open-play crosses at 68, constantly looking to get balls into the box for Isak.

So far this season, Gordon has created 15 chances in the Premier League, eight more than any other Newcastle player. He’s also posted 1.51 Expected Assists, also more than any other Newcastle player.

Gordon is a tricky winger which makes him so creative, completing 54 take-ons in the Premier League last season, always looking to beat his defender before whipping a ball into the box. It’s been a similar story this season, with 11 take-ons completed so far.

Newcastle’s card magnets & top tacklers: Joelinton

• Key stat: Joelinton has committed 17 fouls in the Premier League this season, the second-most in the division.

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 38 times in the league, including 20 times in the middle third which is the fifth-most in the division. He’s also made 19 tackles, the joint-most among Newcastle players alongside Guimaraes.

But Joelinton does sit top — or bottom, however you want to rank it — for fouls. He’s committed 17 in the Premier League this season, more than any other Newcastle player. Only Lewis Cook (18) has committed more in the Premier League. Joelinton has also been booked four times, with only two in the league receiving more so far.

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 feature this season due to injury. But when he is back, Miley will undoubtedly grow.

Newcastle’s set-piece specialists:

• Penalties: Alexander Isak
• Free kicks: Kieran Trippier
• Corners: Kieran Trippier

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 are once again struggling with injuries and haven’t been able to consistently name their full-strength XI. But they have still been able to feature their biggest names. Anthony Gordon doesn’t get into their most-used XI from the season so far, but that’s because he’s played across the pitch. The Englishman has played on both wings and through the middle, replacing Alexander Isak while the Swede has been injured.

Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes have also got significant game time on the flanks, with the latter doing well. In midfield, Sean Longstaff has been completing the trio alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. At the back, Kieran Trippier has been replaced by Tino Livramento, who has made the right-back spot his own with Lewis Hall on the left. Nick Pope has returned in goal after missing a lot of last season through injury. Hall’s place on the left has come following Sven Botman’s injury, which saw Dan Burn pushed into centre-back alongside Fabian Schar.

Newcastle’s best players so far

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

• Harvey Barnes (73%)

Harvey Barnes has been Newcastle’s goalscorer so far this season, with three goals. That has averaged out to 0.7 per 90 minutes, with an xG overperformance of 0.37 per 90. He’s also posted a non-penalty xG of 0.62. Barnes has also been a danger in creating, with 0.23 intentional assists. While all assists count, the intentional assist should show which players are more creative — as they mean to set up goals. Barnes averages 5.81 touches in the opposition box, getting at defences quite a lot.

• Nick Pope (68%)

Newcastle will be grateful to have Nick Pope back between the sticks. The Englishman has averaged 0.49 goals prevented per 90 minutes in the Premier League season. He’s been a very busy man, but reliable, with Newcastle conceding seven goals in seven games. Pope ahs averaged 4.43 saves per 90 in the Premier League, with 3.0 of those coming from inside the box.

• Lewis Hall (66%)

Lewis Hall had an up-and-down spell on loan last season, as you’d expect from a young player. But he’s started the new season well. The 20-year-old has created 0.42 big chances per 90 minutes in the league this season, and completed 1.05 crosses. He’s also doing well defensively, with 1.05 interceptions retaining possession per 90.

• Anthony Gordon (63%)

Given his utility across the front line, Anthony Gordon has been hard to track this season. But he’s still scoring well per winger metrics. The Englishman has averaged 0.3 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, with an average xA of 0.23 per 90. He has also won one penalty, which he scored against Manchester City.

• Fabian Schar (60%)

As mentioned, Newcastle have conceded seven goals this season, boasting one of the better defences in the Premier League. At the heart of it has been Fabian Schar. The Swiss centre-back has made 1.16 interceptions retaining possession per 90 minutes in the league this season, while only losing 0.23 challenges. He has also completed 4.41 long passes per 90, helping to move the ball up the pitch.

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