Liverpool handed early advantage after Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle makes alarming claim
Liverpool's Premier League opener is fast approaching, but if Reds are feeling a bit concerned, well they'll be heartened to learn that those of a Newcastle United persuasion are even more worried. This extends all the way to the new man in charge of Tyneside. Despite having taken charge of three pre-season matches, Eddie Howe surprisingly resigned as recently as 31 July. He was swiftly replaced by Matthias Jaissle, who led Al-Ahli to back-to-back Asian Champions League titles, but the 38 year old will not have a lot of time to prepare for the competitive campaign.
In the second of his four pre-season fixtures at the helm, the Magpies were easily swatted aside 3-1 by Everton at Murrayfield on Wednesday evening; Harvey Barnes with a late close-range consolation in Edinburgh. Talking after the match, Jaissle spoke honestly about his team's shortcomings. This is what he had to say when asked how worried he is that the Liverpool match is just over a week away:
For sure, we cannot be at our peak [against Liverpool], this is clear. We have just been working for a couple of days together... and Liverpool is already next week now. We use every day in the best possible way, that’s the only thing we can control... Then, it will be the same with the transfer market. Hopefully, there will be progress there tooMatthias Jaissle
Fair to say, it has been a turbulent summer at St James' Park, not just on the managerial front. Alexander Isak's record-breaking move to Liverpool a year ago was really just the start of the mass exodus out of Newcastle United, with four more stalwarts following suit already this time round.
Newcastle United summer 2026 selected departures
Anthony Gordon: FC Barcelona - £70 million.
Sandro Tonali: Tottenham Hotspur - £100 million.
Bruno Guimarães: Arsenal - £75 million.
Kieran Trippier: Wolverhampton Wanderers - Free transfer.
For the vast majority of the Saudi-era at Newcastle, led by Howe, the core of the Magpies' team remained constant. This saw the club qualify for the Champions League twice, including reaching last season's round of 16. Howe's crowning glory came against Liverpool, lifting the 2025 EFL Cup, the club's first major domestic honour in 70 years.
Now led by Jaissle, the Saudi project in the North East is seemingly going in a different direction. Reports suggest that their ambition is to follow the classic Borussia Dortmund model, by bringing in young players, developing them and selling them on at an enormous profit. This is reflected by their transfer business thus far in the summer.
Newcastle United summer 2026 arrivals
Bazoumana Touré: Hoffenheim - £43 million. Winger. Age 20.
Aladji Bamba: AS Monaco - £35 million. Defensive midfielder. Age 20.
Lukáš Horníček: SC Braga - £25.7 million. Goalkeeper. Age 24.
Sean Steur: Ajax - £22.6 million. Central midfielder. Age 18.
Ewen Jaouen: Stade de Reims - £18.5 million. Goalkeeper. Age 20.
The expenditure of around £150 million on five new recruits, four of which are aged 20 or under, suggests the PIF have not abandonded Newcastle. Nevertheless, this is rather overshadowed by the fact they've raised almost £250 million by selling Gordon, Tonali and Guimarães. The arrival of two new goalkeepers, namely Lukáš Horníček and Ewen Jaouen, is why veteran Nick Pope had been encouraged to find a new club, which would be another of the old guard heading for the exit door.
Meantime, 20 year old Bazoumana Touré was one of the most exciting youngsters in the Bundesliga last season, racking up five goals and 12 assists, a key reason why Hoffenheim qualified for the Europa League. Thus, Newcastle are still likely to be competitive this season and, with no European football, bettering last season's 12th place finish is an achievable aim.
Nevertheless, as Jaissle himself admitted, his team will require time to find their best form. Thus, from a Liverpool point of view, the opening weekend could be the ideal time to visit St James' Park, even if the atmosphere will be at fever pitch, even more so than usual, due to it being Isak's first return.
