Newcastle United vs Aston Villa

The atmosphere at St. James' Park will be electric today, Sunday, January 25, 2026, as Newcastle United welcomes high-flying Aston Villa. Kick-off is set for 14:00 GMT (09:00 ET / 15:00 CET).

This is a monumental clash for the European places. Aston Villa remains the surprise package of the season, sitting in 3rd place (43 points) despite a recent stumble. Newcastle, meanwhile, is climbing the table in 8th place (33 points) and could move as high as 6th with a win today, narrowing the gap on the Champions League spots.

Match Information

Newcastle United: The Fortress of Tyneside

Eddie Howe has turned St. James' Park into an impenetrable stronghold. The Magpies are currently on an 18-match unbeaten run at home against Aston Villa, a streak dating back to 2005. They enter this game fresh from a dominant 3–0 midweek win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

Team News and Selection:

• Bruno Guimarães Doubt: The captain is the biggest concern after limping off against PSV with an ankle injury. Reports suggest Howe will wait until the final minute to decide on his fitness.

• Injury Crisis at the Back: Newcastle is severely depleted in defense. Fabian Schär (ankle), Tino Livramento (hamstring), and Emil Krafth (knee) are all out. Dan Burn is a 50/50 doubt with rib issues.

• In-Form Attack: Harvey Barnes has been lethal, scoring five goals in his last five appearances. He is expected to start alongside Anthony Gordon and either Nick Woltemade or Yoane Wissa.

• Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Tonali, Joelinton, Miley; Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon.

Aston Villa: Looking to Steady the Ship

Unai Emery’s side has hit a slight "domestic wobble," winning only one of their last four Premier League matches, including a shock 1–0 home loss to Everton last weekend. However, they secured their place in the Europa League last 16 with a 1–0 win over Fenerbahçe on Thursday and remain one of the most dangerous away teams in the league.

Team News and Selection:

• Midfield Holes: Villa is missing the engine room of John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara, both sidelined with long-term knee injuries. Ross Barkley also remains out.

• Goalkeeper Concern: Emiliano Martínez missed the midweek European trip with a calf strain. If he cannot prove his fitness, Marco Bizot will continue between the sticks.

• Attacking Milestone: Ollie Watkins leads the line with 7 league goals this season and has a penchant for scoring in big away games.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Tielemans, Onana; Sancho, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• The "Hex" on Villa: Aston Villa has not won a league game at St. James' Park in over 20 years. Their last four visits have ended in an aggregate score of 13–1 in favor of Newcastle.

• Goal Machines: Newcastle has scored at least two goals in each of their last eight home league matches, a feat not achieved by the club since the 1930s.

• Defensive Resilience: Despite their injuries, Newcastle has kept seven clean sheets this season, while Villa has six.

• Reverse Fixture: The two sides played out a tactical 0–0 draw at Villa Park on the opening day of the season.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Expect a high-octane encounter. Newcastle will look to exploit Villa’s high defensive line with the direct running of Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes. If Bruno Guimarães is out, the physical presence of Joelinton and the technical quality of Sandro Tonali will be vital in winning the midfield scrap against Youri Tielemans.

Villa will aim to control the tempo through Tielemans and use Morgan Rogers to find pockets of space behind Newcastle’s makeshift backline. However, Newcastle’s historical dominance at home and their clinical form in front of their own fans often prove too much for visiting sides.

Final Score Prediction: Newcastle United 2–1 Aston Villa