Newcastle United's Challenges Ahead of Liverpool Match

Newcastle United’s new era under Matthias Jaissle will start with a test as hard as they come: Liverpool at St James’ Park on Sunday, and key pieces already missing.

The German coach has barely had time to settle on Tyneside, yet he walks into a Premier League opener shaped by departures, tactical overhaul and now a mounting injury list. The optimism of a fresh start is there, but so is the reality check.

Jaissle’s midfield blow

Joelinton was supposed to be one of the pillars of this transition. He fought back from the muscle injury that cut short his 2025-26 campaign, returned in preseason against Valencia and Everton, and looked ready to be part of Jaissle’s first competitive XI.

Then came another setback.

According to The Shields Gazette’s Jordan Cronin, the Brazilian will miss Sunday’s clash with Liverpool and is now targeting Newcastle’s trip to Leeds United on September 14 for his return. It leaves a sizeable hole in the middle of the pitch and strips Jaissle of one of his most physical, combative options.

“Now with Joelinton, a player who's unfortunately injured, so he will be missing a couple of weeks as it looks right now,” Jaissle admitted. “This is something we need to solve as soon as possible. Well, he will miss for sure the first weeks, but all details will be followed.”

The message is blunt: he’s out, and Newcastle must adapt quickly.

Livramento still sidelined

On the right flank, another important piece remains stuck on the sidelines.

Tino Livramento has not featured at all in preseason after the calf injury that forced him to withdraw from England’s World Cup squad. His recovery is progressing, but not fast enough for the opener.

Cronin reports that the full-back is edging closer to a return, with Newcastle’s trip to Tottenham on August 29 pencilled in as a realistic comeback date. Liverpool at home, though, will come too early.

Without Livramento, Jaissle loses a dynamic outlet down the right and another option in a back line already adjusting to his ideas.

Willock adds to the uncertainty

If Joelinton and Livramento are clear absentees, Joe Willock sits in a more frustrating grey area.

The midfielder was forced off late in Newcastle’s final preseason friendly against Strasbourg. As it stands, the exact nature of the problem has not been confirmed. Cronin notes that a groin issue has been suggested, but there is no firm timeline on his return and his involvement against Liverpool is in serious doubt.

For a coach trying to install a new structure and rhythm, losing three potential starters in the same week is far from ideal. It stretches options in midfield, tests depth, and may accelerate decisions in the transfer market.

Liverpool’s own problems

The visitors are hardly at full strength either.

Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez have all been ruled out of Sunday’s match. Several others in the Liverpool squad are also considered doubtful for the trip to Tyneside, leaving their own plans slightly clouded ahead of the opener.

So both managers walk into St James’ Park with questions, patched-up lineups and a sense that the bench could decide the tempo of the afternoon.

Jaissle’s first Premier League team sheet, shaped by injuries and uncertainty, will offer the clearest early glimpse of how he intends to steer this Newcastle side through a season already asking difficult questions.