Newcastle vs Brighton - Match preview and predicted line-ups

The penultimate home game of the 2025/26 season, where an out-of-sorts Newcastle United welcome an in-form Brighton to St James' Park.

With us now 14th and as close to Brighton in 6th as we are to the relegation zone, thanks to an eight-point gap in either direction, this game feels as much about Eddie Howe's future than anything else.

We've lost nine of our last 12, five in a row in all competitions and have been defeated in eight of our last eight domestic games at St James', while Brighton arrive having won six of their last eight, going unbeaten in five.

It all sounds a bit ominous, but we were better, albeit in defeat, away to Arsenal last Saturday and simply MUST build on that. Anything like the soft, directionless and dire display we put on against Bournemouth in our last home game, and we'll be in trouble.

Who starts? 

For me, there are five pre-match debates here. 

• Who starts in goal? 
• Who starts at left-back?
• Who is the third midfielder alongside Bruno and Tonali?
• Who starts out wide?
• Who starts up front? 

In goal, Nick Pope's return to the side last weekend tells me he's likely to be in goal for the remaining four games of the season, highlighting how little Aaron Ramsdale has done to stake a claim in recent months. 

At left-back, it has to be Lewis Hall, surely? At home, with the emphasis on us to be positive, attack and use the ball well, it would be baffling to see 6ft 7' Dan Burn stay in the side. Down the right, I back Lewis Miley to start again after a typically reliable display at The Emirates.

In midfield, that third slot is a shootout between Joelinton, who is back from a two-game ban, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock. As Ramsey was quiet last Saturday and Howe is fighting to keep his job, I think we'll see Joelinton back in the side, giving us a rare sighting this season of Bruno, Tonali and Big Joe.

Out wide, Anthony Gordon is pushing to return after training this week. If he's fit, I think he starts. As for the right wing, Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy have looked so poor of late that I'd prefer to see Harvey Barnes or Will Osula thrown in. However, based on Elanga's severe lack of confidence, I think Murphy, who owes us a performance, is more likely to start, unless Howe shakes things up.

Now for the big talking point: who starts up top? Osula has two goals in his last three, but is it time to hand Nick Woltemade a chance - we pick up significantly more points at home when he starts in attack - or reward Yoane Wissa for his supposed sharpness on the training ground? I'd like to see Big Nick, but my head says Howe sticks with Osula.

Predicted Newcastle XI: Pope - Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall - Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton - Murphy, Osula, Gordon. 

Predicted Brighton XI: Verbruggen - Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu - Baleba, Gross - Minteh, Hinshelwood, Mitoma - Welbeck. 

Ruled out: Schar, Livramento, Krafth. 

Who wins? 

Newcastle need a win, BADLY, but I think this one could end all square in a game of goals.

I expect us to be far better than the tepid effort we put in against Bournemouth two weeks ago, although there is no guarantee 'better' beats a Brighton side who've not lost in any of their last five, conceding just once in beating Chelsea, Liverpool, Sunderland and Burnley in that time.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Brighton 

Keep the faith. Howay the lads!