Newcastle United vs West Ham United

St James’ Park forms the backdrop for a high-stakes Premier League showdown between Newcastle United and West Ham United.

Newcastle United welcomed the international break in high spirits after a 3-1 triumph at Nottingham Forest extended their winning streak in domestic football to three matches. Seeking a third successive Premier League triumph for the first time since September 2023, Eddie Howe’s charges entertain a lowly West Ham side they’ve not lost to across their last five top-flight H2Hs (W2, D3). However, the Magpies can ill-afford to take this fixture lightly, especially considering their indifferent three-game home league form (W1, D1, L1). Taking the lead could be a match-defining moment, with Newcastle entering this round as the only team in the Premier League yet to drop points from winning positions this season. Furthermore, they’ve won their last ten league fixtures when going in front!

On the other hand, West Ham’s underwhelming Premier League start under new manager Julen Lopetegui has hit a new low as perennial strugglers Everton held them to a scoreless home draw just before the international break. With only three wins from the opening 11 rounds (D3, L5), Lopetegui is on the precipice of a premature farewell unless he turns West Ham’s fortunes around quickly. Since the opening-day triumph at Crystal Palace, the Irons have gone four consecutive league travels without winning (D2, L2), suggesting an immediate return to winning ways is far-fetched. Adding to this sentiment, they’ve only registered two clean sheets across their last 28 Premier League matches away from home, conceding 2.4 goals on average during that sequence.