Newcastle United welcomes Liverpool to St James’ Park on Sunday morning as the two clubs get their 2026-27 Premier League seasons underway. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET, with both sides hoping their busy summers can set the stage for a return toward the top of the table.
Newcastle entered last season back in the Champions League after finishing fifth in 2024-25, but couldn’t flip that momentum into another push toward the top of the Premier League. They ultimately slipped to 12th and missed out on Europe altogether, bringing an abrupt end to the progress they had made under Eddie Howe.
Liverpool’s drop wasn’t quite as far down the table, but the expectations were considerably higher. The Reds began 2025-26 as defending Premier League champions and never seriously threatened to repeat, eventually finishing fifth. That was still enough to secure a Champions League place, but the disappointing title defense ultimately cost Arne Slot his job after two seasons in Anfield.
The response has brought considerable change to both clubs. Howe stepped down in July after nearly five years at Newcastle, with former RB Salzburg and Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle taking over. He inherits a roster that no longer includes Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimarães or Sandro Tonali, three of Newcastle’s most important players in recent years. The club has shifted younger in response, adding Bazoumana Touré, Amar Dedić, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba among a collection of summer arrivals.
Liverpool turned to former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who also begins his tenure with some major pieces missing from last year’s squad. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté all departed this summer, while Jérémy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz were purchased and Ronald Araújo joined on loan from Barcelona.
That leaves plenty to learn about both teams on opening weekend. Newcastle is beginning life after Howe and several cornerstone players, while Liverpool is trying to get back into the title race under a new manager without Salah leading the attack. One player who will be particularly familiar with his surroundings Sunday is Alexander Isak, who returns to St James’ Park for the first time since leaving Newcastle for Liverpool last summer.
Newcastle vs. Liverpool Odds Today
Liverpool is listed as a short road favorite on the 3-way moneyline at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Newcastle United (+300)
- Draw (+275)
- Liverpool (-120)
Best Bet for Newcastle vs. Liverpool
Before placing any bets on the Premier League this season, don’t forget to check out Hard Rock Bet’s Stats Hub for countless trends, streaks and matchup insights for every game on the board.
For Sunday’s featured play, we’re backing a familiar face in a familiar place with Alexander Isak Anytime Goalscorer.
Isak established himself as one of the Premier League’s top strikers during his three seasons with Newcastle, and some of his best work came at St James’ Park. Across his final 26 Premier League appearances at the stadium, the Swedish striker piled up 22 goals and six assists before completing his £125 million move to Liverpool last summer.
His first year at Anfield didn’t go according to plan. Injuries limited Isak throughout the season and prevented him from facing Newcastle in either Premier League meeting, meaning Sunday’s trip will be his first match back at St James’ Park since leaving the club.
Now healthy entering Year 2 with Liverpool, Isak is expected to lead the line in Iraola’s first competitive match in charge. There’s certainly some added intrigue surrounding the setting, but the case ultimately comes back to his track record there: few players know how to score at St James’ Park better than Isak.
At these odds, we’ll back him to find the net in his return to his former home.
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Liverpool has commanded nearly all of the early 3-way moneyline action for Sunday’s matchup:
- Liverpool has received 92.6% of all tickets and 92.1% of the total handle.
- Newcastle has taken in 4.3% of the bets and a 6.5% share of the money wagered.
- The draw rounds out the market with 3.1% of all tickets and 1.4% of the handle.
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props
Liverpool players occupy all five spots on the list of most-bet player props, including three different markets involving Isak:
- Alexander Isak – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
- Cody Gakpo – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
- Alexander Isak – Anytime Goalscorer
- Dominik Szoboszlai – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
- Alexander Isak – To Score or Assist
Newcastle vs. Liverpool Match Info
- 📍 Location: St James’ Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
- 📅 Date: Sunday, August 23
- ⏰ Start Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
- 📺 Where to Watch: NBC, Peacock
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