St James' Park, Newcastle
Saturday, 5 September 2026, 12:30 BST
Saturday's 12:30pm kick-off sees a Bournemouth side still to register a Premier League win under Marco Rose travel to St James' Park, where they will face Matthias Jaissle's Newcastle United, who head into this clash after a composed 2-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur, a result that has quickly turned much of the pre-season scepticism about the manager's appointment into something closer to belief.
Rose's Cherries arrive light in attack through injury, though the context cuts both ways: Bournemouth have beaten Newcastle three times in their last six top-flight meetings, and the visitors have not lost to the Magpies in the Premier League since July 2020.
Newcastle vs Bournemouth: preview and form guide
Jaissle's side opened their Premier League season with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool that surprised many, given that Newcastle's summer had been filled with negative speculation about the future.
The Magpies led twice that day and only surrendered two points after a stoppage-time penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai, suggesting the new head coach's high-energy setup has enough quality to unsettle even the biggest sides in the division.
A 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur followed last Saturday, a game that saw Newcastle hold their shape and limit Spurs, while Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa finished clinically in an impressive counter-attacking display.
Jaissle arrived with a reputation for pressing, direct football from his years at RB Salzburg, and so far the evidence in England backs that up despite the pessimism that surrounded the appointment in certain quarters – a fact that is reflected by the operators compared in our best UK bookmakers for football betting guide.
The home side will be confident up against a Bournemouth heading to St James' Park without a win in the Premier League, and the combination of a buoyed host and a visiting team still finding its feet gives Newcastle good reason to expect all three points here, something worth exploring on the best new UK gambling websites in our ranking.
Bournemouth have scored first in both of their Premier League games this season, but failed to hold the lead in either, and Rose will be looking for a more robust performance from his XI on Saturday.
Marcus Tavernier put the Cherries ahead against Manchester City in their opener, only for the team to concede twice and lose 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, and a week later at Everton, Bournemouth took the lead through Alex Scott before James Tarkowski equalised in the 91st minute to deny them a win.
The capacity to get in front suggests there is something to work with in Rose's attack, but the inability to protect that position in either game is a genuine concern heading into a tough test at St James' Park.
Evanilson has provided two assists across his opening two Premier League appearances (both of Bournemouth's goals so far have come from his work) yet he has not registered a single shot on target this season.
While it is a major positive that the Brazilian can create without contributing directly to the tally himself, it means that Bournemouth's goal threat is more dependent on the men around him than on the designated striker at the moment.
Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has made nine saves from 12 shots on target across the first two fixtures, a 75% save rate that is respectable in isolation but masks a recurring problem: Bournemouth's midfield has not provided consistent enough protection in front of the defence, and the man between the sticks has had to make important stops at moments when the shape has opened up around him.
Team news for Newcastle vs Bournemouth
Newcastle
Jaissle is without Joelinton for a third consecutive Premier League game, though the Brazilian midfielder is closing in on a return and may be targeting a comeback against Leeds United on September 14.
Versatile centre-back Dan Burn has been absent since pre-season with an ankle problem and will not feature here, leaving Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman to continue as the central defensive partnership.
William Osula's foot injury, picked up during the Liverpool draw, rules him out until October, and Nick Woltemade has left the club on a season-long loan to Juventus, shrinking the forward options available from the bench. Those shopping around sign-up offers ahead of Saturday can browse our guide to sports free bets offers.
Elsewhere, Valentino Livramento has returned to team training after his calf injury and is listed as a doubt, given he is unlikely to feature as he builds fitness, so expect to see Amar Dedic and Lewis Hall start at full-back.
Bournemouth
Rose arrives at St James' Park lighter in attack than ideal, with Eli Junior Kroupi having missed the start of the season with a foot injury expected to keep him sidelined until late October at the earliest.
Amine Adli is also ruled out with a calf problem, further depleting Bournemouth's depth and removing someone capable of stretching play and providing an alternative to Rayan in the final third.
Julian Araujo remains out with a thigh injury, meaning 35-year-old Adam Smith continues at right back for a third consecutive Premier League outing.
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The remainder of the squad is available, with Tyler Adams fit after a minor knock that limited him to substitute appearances in the opening two league games of the season.
Predicted lineups for Newcastle and Bournemouth
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1, predicted): Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Gonzalez, Miley; Elanga, Willock, Barnes; Wissa.
AFC Bournemouth (4-2-3-1, predicted): Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Cook, Scott; Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson.
Newcastle and Bournemouth head-to-head record
The historical record between these two clubs, eight wins apiece from 24 meetings, suggests that Newcastle and Bournemouth have been evenly-matched over the years, but recent Premier League results offer a more instructive picture.
Bournemouth have not lost to Newcastle in the Premier League since July 2020, a sequence of eight matches that has yielded three wins for the Cherries and five draws, including a famous 4-1 victory at St James' Park in January 2025.
The most recent top-flight encounter came in April 2026, when Adrien Truffert struck in the 85th minute to snatch a 2-1 win for the Cherries on Tyneside, with Osula having equalised after Tavernier opened the scoring.
However, that result was against Eddie Howe's Newcastle, and with a different manager, structure, and defensive identity, the Magpies could have more success in this fixture going forward.
The two clubs also met in the FA Cup's third round in January 2026, playing out a dramatic clash that saw Newcastle advance after a penalty shootout following a 3-3 stalemate.
Newcastle vs Bournemouth prediction and betting tips
Odds correct at time of writing; please check current prices before placing a bet.
- Newcastle scored four goals from only six shots on target in their opening two Premier League games, a 67% conversion rate that Bournemouth's Petrovic will need to be at his best to contain
- Wissa has registered six shots and eight fouls won across the opening two rounds, making him a constant physical reference point for the Magpies
- Bournemouth have scored just two goals across their two Premier League games this season, while conceding three – a record that reflects the pressure Rose's defensive shape has been under
- Rose's Cherries travel without two of their key attacking options in Junior Kroupi and Amine Adli, further limiting the variety available to break down Newcastle's defensive structure