The battle lines are drawn as West Ham welcomes Newcastle United to London Stadium for a high-stakes Premier League showdown on Monday night.
Sitting 15th with 33 points, the Hammers are chasing their third consecutive league victory—something they haven’t achieved since 2023. Meanwhile, sixth-placed Newcastle, stuck on 44 points, is desperate to shake off back-to-back defeats and find form before their EFL Cup final clash.
With injuries piling up for the Magpies and West Ham surging with momentum, this could be a brutal, high-intensity fight for crucial points. Buckle up—this one is set to be a thriller!
West Ham is back under the Monday night lights, a familiar stage for the Hammers this season. Their last Monday night showdown with Newcastle in November ended in a stunning 2-0 upset at St. James' Park—one of the rare bright spots of Julen Lopetegui’s tenure. Aaron Wan-Bissaka shined that night, but much has changed since then.
It’s been a turbulent campaign for the east Londoners, but momentum is finally swinging in their favor. Fresh off a shock win at Arsenal and a comfortable 2-0 victory over Leicester, Graham Potter’s men are clawing their way out of trouble. Despite their resurgence, they remain stuck in 16th, and Monday’s clash is another must-win.
History suggests a tight contest—West Ham has drawn 50% of their last six meetings with Newcastle. But drama looms off the pitch too. Lucas Paquetá, facing looming spot-fixing charges, could return from injury just in time. Meanwhile, Michail Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug remain sidelined, though Vladimir Coufal is back in contention. Expect Potter to stick with the 3-5-2 setup that’s breathed new life into the Hammers.
WEST HAM predicted lineup vs NEWCASTLE: Areola (GK); Cresswell, Kilman, Todibo; Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Scarles; Kudus, Bowen.
Newcastle ended 2024 as one of the Premier League’s hottest teams, but the new year has been far less kind. Eddie Howe’s men have stumbled, losing three of their last four league games and suffering a bitter FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton. Their sudden dip in form sees them slip to eighth, just as they prepare for next Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
West Ham, meanwhile, has struggled to turn London Stadium into a fortress, losing half of their home games this season. Newcastle, on the other hand, has been far more ruthless on the road, winning four of their last six away fixtures.
Injury woes continue to plague the visitors. Anthony Gordon is suspended after his red card against Brighton, while Lewis Hall is out for the season. Sven Botman’s long-term absence following knee surgery is another major blow, and captain Jamaal Lascelles remains sidelined. Howe will be praying Kieran Trippier can shake off a back issue to fill the void, while the good news is that star striker Alexander Isak has been declared fit after battling fatigue.
With Newcastle desperate to recapture form and West Ham pushing to escape the relegation scrap, Monday night’s showdown promises to be a battle of resilience and hunger!
NEWCASTLE predicted lineup vs WEST HAM: Pope (GK); Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
West Ham enter Monday’s showdown refreshed and riding a wave of momentum. Graham Potter appears to have cracked the code, finding a system that thrives without a traditional No. 9. The potential return of Lucas Paquetá, even in a limited role, only adds to their growing confidence.
Newcastle, however, are limping into this clash. A string of key absences has stretched their squad thin, and signs of fatigue have crept in after Eddie Howe leaned heavily on a core group during their red-hot run in December and January. But the return of Alexander Isak is a game-changer—if the Magpies have any spark left, their star striker will need to ignite it.
Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Newcastle.
