2024-25 Premier League MW18 - Newcastle vs. Aston Villa: Can the Magpies swoop down on the Villans at St. James' Park? December 26, 2024 by Marc Jerbs

Newcastle United fans, like every football fan, look forward to this important meeting, which will take place on December 26, 2024, at St. James' Park, starting at 3:00 PM GMT. The Premier League clash promises to be an exciting spectacle as both sides look good as they go into this contest.

As it stands, Aston Villa will find itself at the sixth position on the log with 28 points after another competitive season. They have marked their attacking prowess with a goal difference of +4; having scored 24 goals and conceded 20. While Unai Emery has been in charge, Villa has gradually built its reputation as an attacking team with a certain flexibility in tactics so that they could take on some of the top teams in the league.

Aston Villa won four of their last five matches and lost only one, which shows how domineering they have been as a front line. It also highlights the strength of the team as a whole. One of these mentioned matches was an all-important win at home with the score of 2-1 against the very potent Manchester City, which highlighted their ability to challenge elite clubs. They trained Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers, who have become integral to this attack, thus posing a threat during the next match.

The Magpies are the favorites to win the game. Here are our latest odds:

• The Magpies are favored by 1 point, with a full-time result of 1.90.
• The Villans are the underdogs by 1 point, with a full-time result of 3.80
• Draw has a full-time result of 3.80.
• Total Goals is set at 2.5 points, with the Under at 2.30 and the Over at 1.61.

Newcastle United comes next in the standings as the eight-placed club with a haul of 26 points, signifying a fair and promising season albeit a bit bumpy. Their recent eyelid droppers featured: three wins, one draw, and one lost game, a cool 4-0 battering against Ipswich Town, where they paraded their payoff with goals coming from different angles. Newcastle has been sown with the good, crafty manager Eddie Howe: High pressure, fast progression, tough at home.

A team that has held up strong this season at St. James' Park would boast a home record that reads: Win on 4 occasions, draw 2, and lose twice. With these records, this is a venue where the home side, Newcastle, really becomes a challenge, made even more difficult by the fans who came out to support. Key players, from Alexander Isak, for instance, who leads the team in impressive form up front, will heavily depend on transforming opportunities into goals against Villa's determined defenses. But injuries to players such as Nick Pope and Callum Wilson may impact Newcastle's strategy conclusively.

Historically, Newcastle United had an advantage over Aston Villa in head-to-head encounters in the last 70 meetings where Newcastle emerged victorious most times. That would psychologically weigh on both teams as they take to the field, but according to the recent form book, expect a close encounter on this one.

It is also noteworthy that both teams have demonstrated a tendency to allow goals, with Newcastle conceding 25 and Villa conceding 24 thus far in the league. With both teams demonstrating scoring capabilities, it would not be surprising to witness an end-to-end contest filled with chances and potential goals.

In terms of tactics, Aston Villa's propensity to leave gaps during counter-attacks poses a risk, especially against a quick and dynamic Newcastle side adept at exploiting such weaknesses. Meanwhile, Newcastle must be wary of Villa's agile attackers, particularly during pressing situations when Villa looks to create opportunities.

As the match approaches, the excitement builds, eager to see which teams can secure vital points in their chase for European football. Football enthusiasts will undoubtedly be treated to an entertaining spectacle at St. James' Park, as both teams look to assert their dominance in a crucial festive period matchup.

2024-25 Premier League Table