Some interesting comments from this BBC Sport pundit on Newcastle United and Matthias Jaissle.
Chris Sutton speaking as United prepare to kick off their 2026/27 season.
Newcastle United hosting Liverpool as the Premier League campaign at last begins.
A 4.30pm kick-off on Sunday as Matthias Jaissle takes charge of his first ever competitive Newcastle United match.
Andoni Iraola the same with Liverpool.
The BBC Sport pundit declaring: “I like everything I have seen from new Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle but he has had the heart ripped out of his team with Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes leaving. They were two absolute monsters in midfield, who were horrible to play against, but they have gone. So has the influence of Anthony Gordon and the experience of Kieran Trippier. It is sad to see. That’s not to say Newcastle can’t do well now, but I think their fans are realistic about this season and how it will go.”
It is of course now a very different looking Newcastle United.
Matthias Jaissle and his coaching staff moving in, after Eddie Howe and his backroom team moved out.
As the BBC Sport pundit says, some high profile United players leaving, but around £180m spent (so far…) this summer on six young players with hopefully serious potential.
Change is inevitable in football and this is a summer that has been a bit of an end of an era.
Change happening even quicker with the Arne Slot era at Liverpool. No sooner had he won the Premier League in his first season than the Liverpool fans were swiftly wanting him gone. Andoni Iraola the replacement and key players having left Liverpool who were a huge part of their success in recent years the likes of Salah, Robertson and Konate.
Chris Sutton predicts a 3-1 defeat for Newcastle United on Sunday and states: “This will be a fascinating game because Liverpool are still adapting to life under Andoni Iraola and have struggled defensively in pre-season. Hopefully they can run for more than half an hour now, too. I don’t think they will have any problems up front, however. Alexander Isak will get quite a reception – and not in a good way – from the home crowd but I do think he will shine for Liverpool this year, starting on Sunday.”
As Newcastle United fans, we know better than anybody what Alexander Isak is capable of, or rather, what he was capable of.
Since scoring for Newcastle United against Crystal Palace on 16 April 2025, Alexander Isak has scored two penalties for United and three goals for Liverpool in the Premier League in over 16 months.
With Ekitike (and many others) out injured, huge pressure now on Alexander Isak to deliver for Liverpool. I doubt very much he is looking forward to his Liverpool 2.0 season kicking off at St James’ Park, as others have mentioned you wouldn’t be amazed if he picks up a ‘knock’ in training and lets Andoni Iraola know that it might be best for him to sit this one out…
Regardless, this isn’t just about one rodent, it is far more about how this new look Newcastle United group of players are going to try and impress Matthias Jaissle and the United fans.
Football is all about opportunity and William Osula almost a year to the day ago came off the bench and equalised for ten men Newcastle United against Liverpool.
The young Danish striker experiencing an injury impacted season following that but came back to score five goals in his final seven Premier League appearances of last season.
Yoane Wissa is also now in a very different place having been buoyed by his World Cup exploits and looking more like the player who scored more goals without taking any penalties, than any other Premier League striker in the 2024/25 season.
It is all about taking your chances when they come along…