Newcastle United in Premier League freefall
Opta supercomputer predicts relegation battle
Tottenham and West Ham win at weekend
Newcastle United remain in freefall following defeat at Arsenal on Saturday evening, making it four losses in a row in the Premier League.
Eddie Howe had been tasked with achieving Champions League qualification once again this season but the Magpies are a long way off that target with Newcastle 14th in the league.
Even the Europa League and Europa Conference League look out of reach for the Magpies in what has been a disastrous season on Tyneside. Given recent form, Howe’s men are lucky not to be involved in a relegation battle.
Premier League Supercomputer
Newcastle are eight points above Spurs in the drop zone with four matches left to play. That means that the North East outfit could technically still be caught, even if unlikely, but wins for both West Ham and Tottenham this weekend won’t have helped ease those distant fears.
It was former Magpies man Callum Wilson who snatched three points at the death for the Hammers against Everton, while Joao Palhinha helped Roberto De Zerbi to a first win as Spurs boss against Wolves.
ReadNewcastle turns to the stats experts at Opta to look at the Premier League supercomputer. Do the mathematicians believe Newcastle can be caught?
TeamPredicted Points1st – Arsenal82 points2nd – Manchester City79 points3rd – Manchester United66 points4th – Aston Villa64 points5th – Liverpool64 points6th – Brighton56 points7th – AFC Bournemouth54 points8th – Brentford54 points9th – Chelsea54 points10th – Fulham53 points11th – Everton52 points12th – Sunderland51 points13th – Crystal Palace48 points14th – Newcastle United48 points15th – Leeds United46 points16th – Nottingham Forest44 points17th – West Ham40 points18th – Tottenham Hotspur39 points19th – Burnley23 points20th – Wolves21 points
Eddie Howe reacts to Arsenal defeat
Speaking after the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, Howe said: “To lose in the way we did was disappointing. We had a few chances and that was pleasing.
“We were much better with the ball and we are going to be with Bruno’s return. We are frustrated to lose the game and the disappointing run continues which is something we want to stop.”
Howe does believe that there was enough on display at the Emirates Stadium to prove that his side can end the torrid run of recent form.
He added: “Performances always give you hope if they are heading in the right direction. Our confidence and belief has been missing but I think today will have turned the corner. Easy to say but now we need to deliver.”
In other news, Bayern Munich issue Anthony Gordon statement amid £75m Newcastle United transfer links.