The St James’ Park faithful could have been forgiven for donning Manchester City scarves at Wembley during the 2024 FA Cup final, where a win for the reigning Premier League champions over Manchester United would have sent the Magpies to the Europa Conference League.
However, on account of Erik ten Hag‘s men – who finished eighth in the Premier League, one spot below Newcastle – stunning the Citizens in the showpiece event, the Red Devils sealed a Europa League spot, Chelsea dropped down to the Conference League, and Eddie Howe‘s men were left without any form of continental competition.
Despite holding their own in last year’s Champions League Group of Death, the Magpies’ return to the continent ended at the first hurdle, and while they were always hovering around the European spots in the Premier League table, seventh did not suffice this time around.
Off-the-pitch happenings have also threatened to disrupt Newcastle’s preparations, from the departure of director Amanda Staveley to Howe’s links with the England job, but the Magpies soared in pre-season with five victories from a possible six, the outlier being a 2-0 loss to Yokohama F. Marinos.
Furthermore, Howe’s crop found the back of the net in each of their 19 Premier League home games last season, while also navigating their last eight unbeaten, a solid sequence which produced a terrific 24 goals at a rate of three per game.
While some Magpies fans may not have been best pleased by results at Wembley a few months ago, Southampton rejoiced in winning the most lucrative game in football under the arch, fulfilling their promotion dreams at the expense of a heartbroken Leeds United.
Both bidding to jump back into the big time at the first attempt, joining Leicester City and Ipswich Town in the top division, the Whites and the Saints were separated by Adam Armstrong‘s 24th goal of the season – appropriately scored in the 24th minute – as Russell Martin earned his Premier League stars.
Ahead of their swift return to top-flight territory, Southampton have tested their mettle against a host of international opposition in pre-season, beating the likes of Bordeaux and Montpellier HSC while holding Lazio and Getafe to draws in their final fixtures at St Mary’s.
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New faces in the double figures – and one old flame in Adam Lallana – have arrived on the South Coast for the Saints’ latest Premier League adventure, but their 8% win rate on the opening weekend is the worst of all teams to have played in at least 10 Premier League fixtures.
Indeed, the Saints have only prevailed in two of their previous 24 gameweek one scraps in the top flight, and they have suffered five straight losses to Newcastle in all competitions heading into Saturday’s reunion, most recently a 3-1 St James’ Park defeat in April 2023.
