We are now just days away from the start of the new Premier League season; it feels as though it comes around quicker every year doesn't it?
Liverpool have certainly been handed a tricky opening fixture, travelling to St James' Park to face Newcastle United on Sunday.
Given all the change that has happened on Tyneside this summer, it is hard to know what to expect from the Magpies. Well, one of their stalwarts, who all Premier League fans are certainly well aware of, will not be involved. New boss Matthias Jaissle confirmed over the weekend that midfielder Joelinton will not be available for Liverpool's visit to the North East, stating the following:
"Joelinton will be missing for at least two weeks. This is something we need to solve soon. Full details will soon follow.... He will miss, for sure, the first weeks. "Matthias Jaissle
Jaissle has not disclosed what the Brazilian's injury is, nor how severe it might be, but all that matters from a Liverpool perspective is that he will not be involved in Sunday's clash. In 13 career appearances against the Reds, Joelinton has won only once and lost nine, but has picked up three yellow cards.
The ball from Guimaraes and the header from Joelinton 😮💨
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 7, 2026
A Brazilian link-up pulls Newcastle back level! pic.twitter.com/mXxpMCc94v
With Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali having been sold for a combined £175 million this summer, Joelinton was supposed to be the continuity midfielder for Jaissle. The 30 year old started Newcastle's 3-1 friendly defeat against Everton at Murrayfield, but must have picked up this injury in Edinburgh, replaced at half time. So, without him, how are the Magpies likely to lineup on Sunday? In short, hard to say.
Well, Aladji Bamba has joined from AS Monaco for £35 million, while Sean Steur has arrived from Ajax for £20 million. They are 20 and 18 years old respectively. In terms of existing midfielders, Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock and Lewis Miley all saw minutes during the weekend double header, beaten by Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday before being defeated on penalties by Strasbourg on Sunday. Worst Craig David song ever!
In the former, when he picked a stronger XI, Jaissle deployed Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade as a front two, flanked by Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga; it'll be interesting to see if he is equally as adventurous when Liverpool come to town.
Nevertheless, with Jaissle having only just been appointed, still figuring things out, this could be the ideal time to play Newcastle.
Andoni Iraola will hope his own midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz is able to dominate whatever Newcastle have to offer.
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