Having failed to win their last three Premier League outings, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United will be desperate to find the year on a high with a win over a struggling Burnley outfit that looks set for an immediate return to the EFL Championship.
The home team are 19th on the points table with 12 points in their 18 outings. Scott Parker’s men have only secured three wins so far, the last of which came towards the end of October against bottom-placed Wolves.
Burnley have been winless in their last nine Premier League outings, but they are heading into this fixture on the back of consecutive draws against Bournemouth and Everton, which should give them some confidence.
Newcastle United, who are expected to be fighting for a European spot, find themselves 14th on the table with 23 points in their 18 outings. They have only managed six wins in the league so far and have secured three points only once in their last five league outings.
The Magpies have been winless in their last three league outing, losing two of those fixtures. They are heading into this one on the back of a disappointing 1-0 loss against Manchester United, and they are expected to go all out to try and get things back on track. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
The home team will be without the services of Jordan Beyer, Connor Roberts, and Zeki Amdouni on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Axel Tuanzebe, Lyle Foster and Hannibal Mejbri are away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. Joe Worrall and Josh Cullen are major doubts for this fixture, while Maxime Esteve will undergo a late fitness test.
Burnley will line up in a 3-4-3 formation, where Martin Dubravka will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Hjalmar Ekdal, Josh Laurent, and Bashir Humphreys. The trio will receive significant support from Kyle Walker and Lucas Pires, who will feature as wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Lesley Ugochukwu will partner with Florentino Luis in the centre of the park. Burnley’s central midfield duo will look to ensure the Newcastle United midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Marcus Edwards will feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Armando Broja will continue to lead the line for Burnley against Newcastle United on Tuesday night.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Dubravka; Laurent, Ekdal, Humphreys; Walker, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Pires; Edwards, Broja, Bruun Larsen
Eddie Howe will be without the services of Dan Burn, Valentino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, William Osula, and Anthony Elanga this midweek.
The visitors will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Aaron Ramsdale should take charge in goal. Lewis Miley and Lewis Hall are expected to be the full-backs, while Malick Thiaw will pair up with Fabian Schar in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Sandro Tonali will take up the defensive role in midfield, while Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Ramsey will be in his support. The trio will look to control the tempo of the game.
Finally, Nick Woltemade will spearhea the Newcastle United attack against Burnley at Turf Moor on Tuesday night, with Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Gordon has only gone from strength to strength since joining Newcastle United at the start of 2023 from Everton. The Englishman established himself as one of their mainstays, and he has had an impressive first half with 10 goal contributions in 22 outings.
The 24-year-old has seven goal contributions in his six Champions League outings. While the former Everton winger has been on fire in the UCL, things have not been that great for him in the Premier League.
However, the English international has managed to turn things around with all three of his goal contributions in the league, coming in his last five outings. Gordon will be eager to add to his tally against Burnley and help his team return to winning ways.
Burnley will take some encouragement from their recent draws, but they remain in a precarious position and face a tough test against a Newcastle United side desperate to rediscover form. The Clarets are likely to sit deep, stay compact and look to frustrate the visitors, hoping to capitalise on set-pieces or moments in transition.
Newcastle United, however, should see this fixture as an ideal opportunity to get back on track. With greater quality in midfield and pace out wide, Eddie Howe’s men are expected to control large spells of the game and create enough chances to make the difference.
If they are clinical in the final third, the Magpies should have enough to secure a comfortable away win. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Eddie Howe and his charges.
