Match Pack: Newcastle vs Saints

THE MATCH

Newcastle vs Saints
Premier League
St James’s Park
Sunday 30th April, 2pm BST

THE OFFICIALS

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth official: Stuart Attwel
VAR: Robert Jones
Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton

WHICH KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARNG?

Southampton will be wearing their blue away kit with white shorts and white socks.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Having scored a whopping ten goals in their last two fixtures in the Premier League, Newcastle’s form is truly something to be admired as they look to solidify their place in Europe.

It’s been a huge week for the Magpies, who claimed a 4-1 victory over Everton in midweek.

Eddie Howe’s side scored an impressive five goals in just 21 minutes last time out at St James’s Park against Tottenham, emerging 6-1 victors as they moved to third in the Premier League standings.

At the other end of the table, Rubén Sellés’s men will be looking to bounce back from a devastating 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth in the week.

TEAM NEWS

For the hosts, Allan Saint-Maximin will be unavailable for the tie due to a hamstring injury.

Armel Bella-Kotchap is back and available for Saints’ trip to the north east, while Ché Adams will hope to make his first start since March after returning during Thursday’s clash with Bournemouth.

Tino Livramento, Juan Larios and Mohammed Salisu remain sidelined, while James Ward-Prowse and Romain Perraud’s fitness will be assessed ahead of the tie.

THE MANAGERS

Eddie Howe: "We've played Southampton three times I think this season so we know their qualities. They're a good team. It's going to be difficult."

Rubén Sellés: “We have to be brave from the very beginning, we have shown that we can cause damage in certain situations. We need to go for it."

ONES TO WATCH

Joe Willock: The 23-year-old has scored more Premier League goals against Southampton than any other opponent (3).

He has been involved in a goal in each of his last three home league games, scoring one and assisting a further two.

Adam Armstrong: After a lengthy period on the sidelines, the Geordie local has found himself in Rubén Sellés’s starting XI in Southampton’s previous two fixtures.

While the 26-year-old has only found the back of the net twice since arriving on the south coast, he remains a constant attacking threat.

TOP SCORERS

Newcastle:

Goals:
Callum Wilson 13
Miguel Almirón 11
Alexander Isak 10

Assists:
Kieran Trippier 8
Joe Willock 6
Guimerães, Saints-Maximin 5

Southampton

Goals:
Ché Adams 10
James Ward-Prowse 9
Romain Perraud 4

Assists:
Adams, Ward-Prowse, Mara 3
Perraud, Djenepo, Bella-Kotchap, Elyounoussi 2

HEAD TO HEAD

Played: 105
Saints wins: 37
Draws: 24
Newcastle wins: 44

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

January 2023: Newcastle 2-1 Saints (Adams)
January 2023: Saints 0-1 Newcastle
November 2022: Saints 1-4 Newcastle (Perraud)
March 2022: Saints 1-2 Newcastle (S Armstrong)
August 2021: Newcastle 2-2 Saints (Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse)

DID YOU KNOW?

- 75% of Southampton's 12 Premier League away goals this season have been scored by either James Ward-Prowse (5) or Che Adams (4). Since their return to the top-flight in 2012, only in 2013-14 (Jay Rodríguez and Rickie Lambert) and 2020-21 (Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings) have Saints had two players score 5+ away goals in a campaign in the competition.

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