Newcastle United go into the last 11 Premier League matches of the season clutching on to 44 precious points that could hold the key to the Champions League.
Club CEO Darren Eales confirmed that Newcastle have their eyes on at least fifth spot which looks likely to be a Champions League slot this season. But if sixth-placed United are to clinch one of the coveted European places, they will need to get their act together.
The Magpies’ 2-0 defeat at Liverpool last week was not only painful – as Lewis Hall was ruled out for the season after suffering an ankle injury – but also damaging to United’s prospects of making the campaign a success in the Premier League.
In a round of matches that also resulted in Man City beating Spurs 1-0 away from home and Chelsea thrashing doomed Southampton at Stamford Bridge, Newcastle fell behind their big spending rivals. At the same 27 game-stage last term, Newcastle were sitting in eighth place with 40 points.
That’s the bit that bodes well for Eddie Howe’s team who have four more points and are two places better off than at the same stage last season. However, with just 33 points to play for there is very little room for error if Newcastle are to match the 66-point tally of Tottenham in the 2023/24 campaign.
That was enough for Spurs to bank fifth place in the table and if that is to be used as a rough guide that would leave Newcastle requiring 22 points from 33 available to make the top five, something they failed to manage last season after a spluttering and costly finish that left them empty-handed in terms of Europe.
A stalemate at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the final match of the season on Tyneside was followed by a 3-2 defeat at Man United that same week and the loss of five points turned sixth place into seventh meaning Chelsea snatched the Europa Conference League place instead. It’s a tournament that the Blues will probably win this season given the substandard quality of the majority of teams involved, but that could easily have been Newcastle if they’d have been able to stay focused.
That’s all in the history books now of course and now they most focus on trying to get sevens and a draw from the last 11 matches. It suggests that home form is going to be as crucial as ever with Brentford, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Ipswich, Chelsea and Everton all still to visit St James’ Park.
Monday’s visit to West Ham is an opportunity and one that should be taken given the rest of the road trips for Howe’s men include Aston Villa, Brighton and Arsenal. But four defeats in 2025 mean that the heat is on again for Howe’s team ahead of the trip to the London Stadium in front of the cameras.
A glance over the shoulder sees Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham and Aston Villa breathing down the necks of Newcastle while Chelsea and Man City are looking to take car of business above them, both boasting big and healthy squads compared to threadbare United.
Defensively it’s been alarming for Newcastle with 13 goals conceded in five matches in all competitions. West Ham go into this game full of confidence after a win at Arsenal and three easy points against Leicester at home and they’ve also had a fortnight off.
Never mind the Carabao Cup final being a distraction, it’s Newcastle’s Champions League dream that now lies on the line.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/scary-truth-spluttering-newcastle-uniteds-31134020
