Premier League: Big Ambitions set to collide in Newcastle

Newcastle United vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Two of the best young managers in the Premier League come head-to-head on Thursday when Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United host Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton and Hove Albion.

It’s third versus sixth, and this game pits together the Champions League-chasing Magpies with the Europa hopeful Seagulls. The Premier League 2023 betting odds give Howe’s men an edge with the home advantage but there’s one certainty: we’re going to see some great football.  

Newcastle weren’t really expected to claim a Champions League place so soon in the new era of Saudi ownership and Howe built his team on a sound defencive foundation. But they have put in some spectacular performances, and it would be a huge shock if the Magpies were to fall out of the top four over the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, De Zerbi’s swashbuckling Seagulls have been one of the most watchable sides in the English top-flight and they too have had fans off their seats while picking up some highly impressive wins, beating Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates on Sunday.        

Talking Points

Callum is so cool for Newcastle

A journey to Leeds to face former boss Sam Allardyce last weekend was potentially a banana skin for the Magpies and they had to fight hard for a 2-2 draw. And it was star striker Callum Wilson who scored a brace of penalties to make it 17 goals for the campaign.

Only Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Ivan Toney, and Harry Kane have scored more than Wilson, and the Newcastle striker is staking a serious claim for a regular England place. He has struggled with injury, and now that he is 100-per cent fit, he has become one of the most lethal finishers in the game.

His two penalties against Leeds were clinically dispatched in stark contrast to Kane’s ballooned spot-kick in the World Cup against France.

Okay, England boss Gareth Southgate isn’t going to drop King Kane anytime soon, but he should work hard to find a place for Newcastle’s red hot striker.

While Newcastle’s defensive five of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn picks itself, Howe has more decisions to make in the front six. Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton are shoe-ins in the middle, while the dangerous Allan Saint-Maximum, the fast-improving Alexander Isak and the fit again Miguel Almiron are all in contention to partner Wilson.

Brighton bounce back in Style

One of the biggest shocks of the campaign came at the Amex Stadium on Monday 8^th May when relegation threatened Everton plundered five goals in a 5-1 thrashing of the Seagulls.

Nobody saw it coming, neither in Merseyside nor on the South Coast.

But while the result breathed life into the Toffees survival campaign, it also gave Brighton a sharp reminder that they need to be on their game week after week if they are to finish in the top six. And how it worked.     

Brighton’s trip to Arsenal at the weekend could hardly have gone better for the Seagulls as they strengthened their case for European football while simultaneously wrecking the Gunners’ title hopes.

Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav, and Pervis Estupian all scored second half goals as Brighton simply ripped the Gunners apart, and the Emirates stadium was all but empty when the final whistle went, except for a couple of thousand wildly celebrating Brighton fans.

It was just the result the Seagulls needed to restart their final push and top scorer Alexis Mac Allister (with 10 goals) said: “We knew this was an important game and we wanted this reaction from the team after the defeat to Everton so we are happy for the win.”

Mac Allister is one of a number of Brighton’s creative stars, and both teams have players who will make the Premier League 2023 highlights well worth a watch. But keep an eye out for the visitors’ 18-year-old striker Evan Ferguson because he looks a real talent.

History

The Seagulls have won six, drawn six, and lost just three of their meetings with Newcastle.

They drew 0-0 at the Amex Stadium in the second game of the campaign, a match dominated by the Seagulls who were frustrated by Newcastle’s strong defence. Both teams have been hit and miss recently, Newcastle winning three, drawing one, and losing two of their last six games, while Brighton have won three and lost three.

Betting Tip

At a SBOTOP price of 1.98, Newcastle are marginally odds on to win this game with Brighton at 2.96 and the draw at 3.49.

I expect a hard fought but entertaining match and, while home advantage is huge at St James’ Park, I suspect the Seagulls’ regained momentum will be hard to stop after such an impressive win.    

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.