Newcastle United’s first Premier League match of the campaign against Liverpool at St James’ Park could be missing half a dozen players from both lineups. Matthias Jaissle is preparing for his debut as the Magpies’ manager with the arrival of the Reds.
The former Salzburg coach faces a challenging start to his tenure, particularly with Joelinton unavailable in midfield following a summer that saw Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali depart.
The Austrian indicated ahead of the fixture that the Brazilian would be sidelined for a fortnight but declined to elaborate further, stating the medical team is fully informed and he expects a swift recovery.
Jaissle will also be unable to call upon Tino Livramento, whose World Cup dreams were derailed by a training-ground issue sustained during a trip to America. The defender has since resumed group sessions.
When asked about the England youth international’s availability, Jaissle said the timing remains premature for the Liverpool fixture, having completed only one partially-attended session. He emphasized the need for careful management of the player’s comeback while acknowledging the youngster’s considerable ability.
Across the city, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is contending with a heavier injury list. Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leonni remain unavailable after experiencing significant setbacks during the previous campaign.
Bradley is not anticipated back until 2027, with Ekitike expected to remain unavailable for several more months. Leonni is tracking toward a return before the other two but could still be absent for approximately twelve months after damaging his anterior cruciate ligament in September.
Gomez will also sit out the encounter, with his comeback not scheduled until next month. The former Bournemouth manager had indicated during pre-season preparations that a return for the season’s opening fixture would be unfeasible after suffering a muscular problem.
Questions have also surrounded Alexander Isak’s condition ahead of his comeback to the north east. Iraola disclosed the striker will require careful handling after last season’s injury struggles, though he suggested the Swedish international is in encouraging shape having joined up with the group.
The Spanish coach expressed confidence in the forward’s current status, noting his consistent daily training participation and increasing involvement in friendly matches. He highlighted Isak’s impressive availability and fitness demonstrated during the World Cup and emphasized the importance of maintaining that level to unlock his scoring potential.