Finally, on Saturday, the Premier League returns.
Newcastle United take on Crystal Palace, looking to start up where they left off before the international break.
While the Magpies will undoubtedly be favorites at home, the game will not be easy.
Last season, the Eagles battled to a 0-0 stalemate at St James’ Park, due to a lucky VAR call.
Roy Hodgson’s team has begun well this season. As one might expect from a team led by a former England manager, their defensive record is strong, with only Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea conceding fewer goals.
Nonetheless, BBC Sport expert Chris Sutton has made a prediction.
Newcastle vs Crystal Palace: Chris Sutton predicts Premier League scoreline
Indeed, the analyst predicts a 2-0 win for Newcastle over the visiting Palace.
“These two teams met three times last season and didn’t score once between them – although VAR did rob Newcastle of a perfectly good goal in the league game at St James’ Park,” he wrote in the article.
“Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson would probably be happy with another stalemate this time too, but Newcastle have been playing well and I think they will find a way to win.”
Opinion: Crystal Palace game huge for Newcastle
With all due respect, it appears that Newcastle has larger fish to fry than Palace.
The likes of Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, and Arsenal are all on the horizon, but Howe won’t be thinking about them just yet, considering the stern test Palace provides.
They have only been beaten once on the road this season and have prevented Newcastle from scoring from open play three times in their previous encounters.
They have Joachim Andersen and Eberechi Eze on their squad, two players the club has been linked with during the summer.
They must not be treated lightly, yet three points are required. It is critical that Howe’s team get back up and running after the interval, capitalizing on the momentum they built before the break.
With Dortmund only a few days away, it’s time to dust off the cobwebs.
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