West Ham United could be facing their final Premier League away day for some time as they travel to St James’ Park on Sunday evening. The Irons are staring down the barrel of relegation to the Championship, sitting 18th in the table and two points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur.
After the heartbreak of a narrow, VAR-controversial 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side needs something close to a miracle. If they fail to win and Spurs beat Chelsea in midweek, their fate could be sealed before the final day.
Newcastle arrive at this fixture with their safety already mathematically guaranteed following a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. However, that match highlighted the recurring issues that have plagued Eddie Howe’s season. The Magpies have dropped a staggering 27 points from winning positions this term—the most in the division. Despite sitting 13th, their home form remains a threat for any visitor; they have scored at least twice in 13 of their 18 matches at St James’ Park this season.
For the Hammers, the lack of away goals is the primary concern, having failed to find the net in their last three league trips. However, they can take heart from recent history, having secured a 3-1 win over Newcastle back in November.
With Newcastle conceding a league-high 20 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season, West Ham will know that even if they fall behind, there is a path back into the game if they can keep their survival hopes alive.
What are the best picks for Newcastle vs West Ham?
Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals
The statistics point toward an open, high-scoring encounter. Newcastle’s defensive record is poor, with only one clean sheet in their last 14 Premier League games. Meanwhile, their ability to score at home, netting twice or more in the vast majority of their fixtures at St James’, suggests they will test a West Ham backline that has shipped 62 goals this season. With West Ham forced to chase a win to avoid the drop, expect the middle of the pitch to be bypassed in an end-to-end game.
Over 9.5 Corners
Given the must-win nature of the game for the visitors and Newcastle’s desire to end their final home game of the season on a high, the corners market offers value. Newcastle’s attacking play relies heavily on wingers like Harvey Barnes, while West Ham will be desperate to get Jarrod Bowen into crossing positions.
In a game where one team is fighting for their life and the other is prone to late defensive chaos, the corner count is likely to rack up as pressure builds in both boxes.
Where can I watch Newcastle vs West Ham?
USA viewers can stream the match live on Peacock at 12:30 p.m. ET.
UK viewers can watch live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 17:00 BST for a 17:30 kick-off.
What have the managers said?
Eddie Howe:
“It is the last home game of the season and it’s really, really important from our perspective that we finish the season with a positive feeling and we show our supporters how important every game is to us.”
Nuno Espírito Santo:
“We are ready, we are positive and we believe. Every game is a must win and nothing has changed. The importance of the points is the same. I hope the players stay focused, do their task and ignore the outside noise.”
What is Newcastle’s predicted team?
Pope; Hall, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Tonali, Guimaraes; Barnes, Woltemade, Ramsey; Osula
Injured: Lewis Miley (calf), Emil Krafth (knee), Tino Livramento (groin), Fabian Schar (ankle)
Doubt: Joelinton (thigh), Anthony Gordon (selection)
What is West Ham’s predicted team?
Hermansen; Todibo, Disasi, Mavropanos; Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Fernandes, Diouf; Bowen, Summerville; Castellanos
Injured: Adama Traore (quad)
Doubt: Callum Wilson (selection)
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