Phil McNulty is the chief football writer at BBC Sport and back on 14 August 2025 he gave his considered opinion on the 20 clubs contesting this upcoming campaign.
This was just ahead of Newcastle United and the other 19 Premier League clubs kicking off their season.
Before a ball was kicked in anger, the BBC Sport man making his big predictions.
Nine and a half months on, the 2025/26 Premier League season has now concluded.
Phil McNulty has been comparing what he said back in August 2025 with what has proved the reality.
This was how nine and a half months ago the BBC Sport chief football writer’s predicted the 2025/26 final table would end up and specifically the reasoning on Newcastle United from Phil McNulty – 14 August 2025:
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Aston Villa
Newcastle United
Man U
Spurs
Palace
Forest
Brighton
Everton
West Ham
Fulham
Bournemouth
Brentford
Leeds
Wolves
Sunderland
Burnley
Actual 12th: Newcastle United
BBC Sport Phil McNulty NUFC prediction back in August 2025: 6th
Phil McNulty:
“A season of turmoil on Tyneside, undermined by the 11th-hour sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.
Eddie Howe, rightly, will be at the helm to turn things around in what looks like a transitional summer as Anthony Gordon looks set to leave and speculation continues to surround Sandro Tonali.
Simply an unsettled, unsatisfying campaign after the glory of Newcastle’s first domestic trophy in 70 years when they won the 2025 Carabao Cup.
What I said in August 2025: “Why such an optimistic prediction? Newcastle have a fine side when everyone is fit.”