Newcastle United host Liverpool at St James’ Park in a testing start to the 2026/27 Premier League season and fans on Tyneside will be hoping for a sea change from their side.

It was a dismal end to last season under Eddie Howe, which saw the side miss out on European qualification by some margin. The departures of Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and then, ultimately, Howe mean a new dawn in the North East.

Matthias Jaissle arrived described as a ‘rockstar’ by CEO David Hopkinson and has already impacted the side. Here’s what we’ve learned from pre-season preparations.

Newcastle United prioritise aggressive press

At one stage, Eddie Howe’s side were known for their energy and aggression, but that had faded over his final season in charge on Tyneside. Jaissle has explicitly outlined that he wants to bring an aggressive press back.

Speaking this month, the Magpies head coach said:

“The ​approach we have as a coaching team and the ​identity of Newcastle is famed for, it’s so linked together – which is a perfect fit in my ​eyes and that’s going to be exciting.”

That was perhaps most evident to see in a 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. Jaissle’s press created opportunities, but also risks leaving Newcastle United exposed at the back.

A new formation will be seen

Scott Heppell Via Reuters

Eddie Howe became married to his 4-3-3 formation at Newcastle United, sooner playing strikers as midfielders and midfielders as full-backs, before altering his tactics. Jaissle appears to be more of a maverick when it comes to choosing a formation. The new Magpies boss is likely to prefer a 4-2-3-1, which has most commonly been seen in pre-season, but will give his players freedom to adjust that shape depending on the fixture.

He explained: “It is not about formations that much. It is more how you want to play, how you want to attack, how you want to defend. If you understand that and the players understand that, tactically you are much more flexible and the formation is not that important.

“These days the players are more and more involved in tactical things. Every coach and every club works with principles, so every player has to know a lot of things, tactically, in each phase of the game. I think that’s a big change.”

It’s time for Yoane Wissa’s redemption

Towards the end of the 2025/26 campaign, it looked as if William Osula could be the talisman for Newcastle United this season. The striker scored five in the final seven Premier League outings.

Osula stepped in as Yoane Wissa struggled. The former Brentford man, who cost the Magpies £55 million last summer, scored just one top flight goal last season.

Wissa scored three times at the World Cup for DR Congo and looks to have carried that form into pre-season, becoming the main man under Jaissle. The forward scored both goals in the 2-1 comeback over Valencia and is relishing having more faith placed in him.

After the Valencia win, Wissa said: “After a tough season for me, physically and mentally, the World Cup – especially playing with my national team – has been good.

“So now new manager, new Yoane Wissa. That’s what I hope. I’m going to help the team achieve something great this season.”

The Premier League season commences this Friday, meaning the punditry circuit is in full prediction mode, with Paul Scholes the latest to offer his verdict.

Champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City in the curtain-raiser on Friday night at the Emirates, before the full weekend of fixtures ensues. The Gunners will be looking to make a statement prior to their rivals kicking off their respective campaigns.

Mikel Arteta’s men will look to take advantage of transitional periods for their competitors and win back-to-back league titles for the first time since the 1930s. New eras begin at Stamford Bridge, the Etihad and Anfield with Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca and Andoni Iraola all taking charge of the contenders.

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi will commence their first full seasons in charge of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively. Nine months of blood, sweat and tears are upon us, and Scholes has chimed into the pre-campaign discourse.

Paul Scholes Reveals His Top Six Premier League Predictions For 2026/27 Season

Ed Sykes via Reuters

Arsenal are heavy favourites to retain their crown, and the summer arrivals of Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis have only boosted their chances of doing so.

Speaking on the Good, the Bad & the Football YouTube channel, Scholes tipped the Gunners to prevail once again. “They look strong. They look too strong. They’ll win it again,” he said.

Despite losing legendary manager Pep Guardiola, the former Manchester United midfielder backed City to finish second. He also claimed that Chelsea could finish second if they were to sign a goalkeeper.

“I think I’d probably still go City second,” Scholes revealed.

“I think they [Chelsea] could possibly [finish second]. If I were them, I’d have a look at the [Aston] Villa goalkeeper [Emi Martinez]. I know Juventus have just pulled out of the deal for him, but I think he’d be a good signing for Chelsea.”

Speaking about his former club, Scholes placed the Red Devils third, expressing concern over their lack of defensive solidity in the middle of the park.

Initially placing Liverpool fourth, Scholes then reversed this take in favour of Chelsea. He bravely picked the Reds to finish just outside the top four, before backing Spurs to complete the top six.

“Fourth for me, Liverpool. Actually, I’m going to say Chelsea. Liverpool, fifth. Tottenham sixth, yeah.”

Watch Paul Scholes, Michael Owen and Nicky Butt make their predictions

Paul Scholes’ Relegation Picks For 2026/27

Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

After years of underwhelming battles at the other end of the table, an enthralling relegation dogfight played out in 2025/26. Tottenham narrowly avoided losing their Premier League status, sending London rivals West Ham United to the Championship instead.

The drop-zone drama isn’t expected to be quite as exciting this time around. The credentials of the promoted sides have been heavily questioned, and while many have tipped all three to go straight back down, Scholes sprung a surprising prediction.

While the former England international does think Hull City and Ipswich Town will return to the second tier immediately, he believes Newcastle United’s disastrous summer will take its toll, and that the Magpies will lose their status as a top-flight club for the first time since the 2015/16 season.

“I think Newcastle are going to struggle, big time,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised [if they went down]. Newcastle have been there before, not too long ago.”

Having lost Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, the Tynesiders are fancied to struggle. That said, having played in the Champions League as recently as last season, this call from Scholes is certainly being viewed as brave.

US actress Hayden Panettiere passed away on Sunday in South Carolina at the age of 36, and the emotional reason behind her decision to give full custody of her daughter to former fiance Wladimir Klitschko has been revealed.

Panettiere, who starred in the shows Heroes and Nashville, died late last week, with the tragic news first broken by US broadcaster ABC News on Monday morning. The cause of death has not been given.

The actress was involved in a public relationship with former heavyweight boxer Klitschko between 2009 and 2018. In 2013, the couple announced their engagement, while a year later Panettiere gave birth to their daughter, Kaya Evodkia.

Hayden Panettiere Made a Painful Decision Over Custody of Her Daughter

Ina Fassbender via Reuters

After first becoming involved with each other in 2009, Panettiere and Klitschko split up in May 2011 due to the long-distance nature of their relationship. However, the pair rekindled their union in 2013, and just six months after reuniting, they announced their engagement in October of that year.

Just 14 months later, Panettiere gave birth to their daughter. The couple enjoyed four years together with Kaya, before splitting up again in 2018. Panettiere relinquished full custody of her child in the process, stating that this decision was related to her battle with substance addiction and postpartum depression.

“It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make,” she told parenting outlet Mome for its July edition.

“I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be.”

Delving into her dependency on alcohol, she said: “I turned to wine, which ultimately ended up leading to an alcohol dependency. It was how I would get through each day.”

Writing in her memoir, ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning‘, which was released earlier this year, Panettiere described how difficult she found being separate from her daughter.

“Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion – including sadness, resentment, and anger – I’ve felt because of it.”

Back in 2024, the actress detailed the close relationship she had with her daughter at the time.

“I love my daughter, and I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming,” she said (via the Manchester Evening News).

“I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini-me.”

Profound tributes have flooded in from Hollywood co-stars, family and friends since news of her passing, honouring the actress’ legacy and talent.