Newcastle United United and Aston Villa will lock horns in this post-Christmas clash.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa best bets
- Newcastle United to win – 5/6 with Copybet
- Over 3.5 goals – 15/8 with SBK
- Alexander Isak to score any time – 11/10 with Betfred
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa odds
Find the latest match odds for Newcastle United vs Aston Villa. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa predictions
Newcastle United and Aston Villa are the Premier League’s disruptors. The former finished fourth in 2022/23 and the latter did so last term. These two clubs are out to break up the so-called ‘big six’.
As well as sharing that grand ambition, there are other similarities between Newcastle and Villa.
The season after they qualified for the Champions League, the Magpies struggled for consistency in the Premier League. The same fate has befallen Unai Emery’s team this term, although it should be said they are performing better in Europe than Newcastle did.
Finally, Newcastle and Villa have had similar seasons so far. There have been ups and downs for both sides. Yet as the new year approaches, there are signs that Newcastle and Villa are starting to get their acts together.
Start with Newcastle. The summer transfer market was tough for Eddie Howe, who was not able to sign a single player who improved his starting XI. Newcastle spent most of the window chasing Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, only to fall short in their attempt to sign him.
Perhaps a slow start was therefore inevitable. Early results were broadly positive, even if performances were not. But a four-game winless streak, culminating in a 4-2 defeat by Brentford earlier this month, saw Newcastle drop to 12th place.
Villa were also quick out of the blocks, but once the Champions League got under way they found it tough to balance both competitions. Emery’s side were in the Conference League last season, so continental commitments are not entirely new, but the Champions League induces a greater mental strain.
Both teams now appear to be on the up. Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday to make it three wins in their last four league outings. Newcastle have won back-to-back matches, the latest of which was a 4-0 thumping of Ipswich Town.
Champions League qualification remains the goal for Howe and Emery alike. But with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal widely expected to finish in the top four, there may only be one more place up for grabs.
Head-to-head clashes between the pair, starting with this one on Boxing Day, thus take on added importance.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa betting tips
Two Champions League hopefuls are ready to go at it at St James’ Park on Thursday afternoon.
Newcastle United to win
As mentioned above, Aston Villa have won three of their last four Premier League matches. Each of those victories came in front of their own supporters at Villa Park.
Their recent away record makes for more sober reading. Villa have lost four on the trot at rival grounds, suffering consecutive defeats by Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.
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That is a tough set of opponents for Emery’s charges, but they were well beaten in three of those games and have not won on unfamiliar soil since October.
These two teams are pretty evenly matched, with just two points between them in the table.
Home advantage, a very real phenomenon in football, may therefore be the decisive factor.
Choose a win for Newcastle United at 5/6 with CopyBet
Over 3.5 goals
Newcastle United did the double over Aston Villa last term, winning 5-1 at St James’ Park and 3-1 at Villa Park.
Both matches featured more than 3.5 goals and we expect that pattern to continue when the duo renew hostilities this week.
Newcastle’s centre-back duo of Schar and Dan Burn can be got at, and the likes of Jhon Duran, John McGinn and Morgan Rogers will cause the hosts problems.
But the Magpies carry a significant attacking threat of their own, with the in-form Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon flanking Alexander Isak. Newcastle have scored 13 goals in their first four matches in December.
This promises to be a really entertaining affair to blow off the cobwebs on Boxing Day.
Select over 3.5 goals at 15/8 with SBK
Alexander Isak to score any time
Newcastle United had several outstanding performers in the 4-0 defeat of Ipswich last time out.
Murphy was fantastic on the right wing, scoring one goal and creating another. Schar locked down Ipswich’s attack. Sandro Tonali brought control and balance to the centre of midfield.
Yet the man of the match award went to Isak, the hat-trick hero at Portman Road.
The Sweden international is back to his best, having scored nine goals in his last nine league appearances.
Only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer have put the ball in the back of the net more often than Isak, who we are backing to add another goal to his tally on Boxing Day.
Go for Alexander Isak to score any time at 11/10 with Betfred
How to watch Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
- Location: St James’ Park, Newcastle, England.
- Date and time: Thursday 26th December, 3pm.
- How to watch: Amazon Prime Video.
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About the author
Dean Etheridge
Dean Etheridge is an experienced freelance sports betting writer who specialises in football. He predominantly covers the Premier League and Champions League but can turn his hand to all aspects of the beautiful game. You can follow Dean on LinkedIn (@deanetheridge)
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