Premier League: Newcastle vs. Aston Villa Preview, Odds, Predictions, Picks

Both Newcastle and Aston Villa have high hopes for the upcoming season and want to make a notable result, possibly win a trophy. That might sound crazy, but both of these clubs have everything needed to lift at least one piece of silverware. Newcastle was on the brink of doing that in the EFL last season, while Villa’s Unai Emery has experience from the past in winning trophies. These two teams met a few weeks ago in the USA, presenting a very interesting battle. Hopefully, we’ll see the same at St. James’ Park next weekend. 

Here are the previews for EPL Round 1:

• Manchester United vs. Wolves
• Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest
• Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Preview

Newcastle (-115) had seven preseason games and didn’t lose a single one. Eddie Howe wanted his team to be sharp in each event, even though it didn’t carry any competitive significance. 

Five wins and two draws was the final record of the preparation period, with the Magpies beating the likes of Rangers, Brighton, Fiorentina, and, in the end, Villarreal. That most recent clash, against the Yellow Submarine, was highly impressive, as Newcastle won 4-0. 

In each but one event, the Magpies didn’t score at least two goals, so Saint-Maximin’s departure didn’t do any harm to the offense’s efficiency. The entire team looks pretty tough and compact, with players from all the lines working perfectly in Howe’s system.

Aston Villa (+375) had three wins and ties each and also didn’t lose during the preseason. Like the upcoming rivals, the team from Birmingham ended the preseason with back-to-back victories, beating Lazio 3-0 and trashing Valencia in the final event, 1-2. 

Unai Emery wants to make the Villains one of the top four teams in England, and so far, it seems that he has reasons to hope for a positive outcome. His tactical knowledge, plus several signings (Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres), resulted in solid results during the summer.

Their attack was also deadly, as the previous four contests in a row saw them hitting the back of the net at least twice. Ollie Watkins is the focal point up front, but Coutinho and Douglas Luiz create everything in behind, with the Brazilian duo leading the game. 

Latest News

Emil Krafth and Matthew Longstaff are both injured for the hosts. Fabian Schar and Joseph Willock will both be a game-time decision.

Jacob Ramsey is the only player from Aston Villa who might skip this event, and that’s because of a thigh injury. 

Head to Head

The game in the USA from July 24 saw six goals, and it ended 3-3. It was a wonderful performance from both sides, who emphasized the offense, trying to put up a good show at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. 

Both teams have used their home-court edge in the previous season. Newcastle was better at St. James’ Park, winning 4-0, while Aston Villa beat the rivals 3-0 at home. 

Predictions

We won’t see the same approach as in the United States because both Howe and Emery will be a bit more cautious coming into this event. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t see goals, and our first and best pick for this event would be to bet on both teams scoring. The offensive capabilities of both units are extremely high, and they should be able to hit the back of the opponent’s net at least once. 

Pick: Both teams to score -135