Two in-form Premier League teams battling for Champions League qualification square off at St James Park' on Saturday lunchtime as Newcastle United play host to Bournemouth.
The Magpies and the Cherries meet for the first time since the end of August last year when they played out a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium.
Match preview
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Newcastle will endeavour to win a club-record 10 consecutive game across all competitions when they face Bournemouth this weekend, after extending their superb run of form with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night.
The Premier League's most in-form player Alexander Isak became just the fourth player in the division's history to score in eight successive matches after scoring either side of half time, before setting up Anthony Gordon to add a third and score his fifth goal in six matches for the Magpies.
Eddie Howe has unsurprisingly said that "there's a lot to be positive about" at present, while Newcastle legend Alan Shearer believes the Magpies "have a chance" of entering the title conversation now they "have got the system working" as well as goal-machine Isak up top.
Sitting fourth in the table, five points behind Arsenal in second and nine adrift of leaders Liverpool who have a game in hand, Newcastle will welcome a return to St James' Park where they have won each of their last five matches, including their last three in the Premier League by an aggregate score of 10-0.
However the Magpies have never kept a Premier League clean sheet at home against Bournemouth in six matches, drawing their last two home encounters in February 2024 (2-2) and September 2022 (1-1).
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Three days after securing a comfortable 5-1 home victory over West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup third round, Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to 10 matches (W6 D4) when they played out a 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea on Tuesday night.
The Cherries appeared to be on course to claim maximum points at Stamford Bridge, courtesy of goals from Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo, but Reece James netted a 95th-minute equaliser for the Blues to force both sides to share the spoils - Bournemouth's fourth league draw in their last six matches.
Andoni Iraola's side may have missed the chance to move to within two points of Newcastle in fourth spot, but they are still only four points behind the Magpies and remain firmly in contention to secure Champions League qualification for next season - something not even the most ardent of Bournemouth supporters would have envisaged at the beginning of the campaign.
Maintaining their position in the top eight could prove challenging for Bournemouth, as three tricky fixtures against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and leaders Liverpool are up next. However, their five-game unbeaten away run - scoring at least two goals in all five matches - should give them confidence ahead of this weekend's trip to St James' Park.
The Cherries are winless in their last four Premier League visits to Newcastle, though, while their record in early kickoffs leaves little to be desired, as they have lost eight of their last 11 top-flight fixtures played at 12.30pm, including all four away from home during this run.
Team News
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Newcastle's Harvey Barnes (muscle) recently joined Callum Wilson (thigh) and Jamaal Lascelles (knee) in the treatment room, and all three players are targeting returns at some stage next month.
There is an outside chance that goalkeeper Nick Pope returns to the matchday squad after a lengthy spell out with a knee injury. Martin Dubravka could retain his spot between the sticks for this weekend's fixture, though.
Fabian Schar missed Newcastle's win over Wolves due to illness, but he could be fit to return against Bournemouth to the heart of the defence alongside Sven Botman, which would likely see Dan Burn drop down to the substitutes' bench.
As for Bournemouth, James Hill was forced off against Chelsea with a hamstring injury and is set to join Evanilson (foot), Enes Unal (ACL), Alex Scott (knee), Marcos Senesi, Julian Araujo, Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra (all thigh) in the treatment room.
Adam Smith (unspecified) remains a doubt, so Lewis Cook could be tasked with filling in at right-back once again, with Ryan Christie operating in a deeper midfield role alongside Tyler Adams, and Kluivert taking up the number 10 spot.
A fluid frontline is set to see Semenyo and Dango Ouattara alternate between the left flank and the centre-forward spot, as Daniel Jebbison - recently recalled from his Watford loan - provides attacking cover as a substitute, while David Brooks should retain his place on the right wing.
Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga was ineligible to face parent club Chelsea in midweek, but he is available to return on Saturday and is expected to replace Mark Travers in goal.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Livramento, Botman, Schar, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara
We say: Newcastle United 2-1 Bournemouth
Four of the last five Premier League meetings between Newcastle and Bournemouth have ended level, and another closely-fought contest could be on the cards this weekend.
As impressive as Bournemouth have been this season, it is hard to ignore Newcastle's sensational winning streak, as well as the prolific form of Isak, so we are backing the Magpies to collect another three points in front of a fired-up St James' Park crowd.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
