Newcastle is coming into this match playing in very good form in their recent friendlies, scoring a lot of goals and defending well. Their squad has made some changes from last season but for the most part, they still have a lot of the quality in this starting XI that they had last season. They have made a lot of improvements as a team over the last 2 seasons and they are going to be hungry to get off to a good start here at home after having a bit of a down year last season from the season prior. They have been a much better team at home over the last 2 seasons, defending very well in those matches while their potent attack has been scoring a lot of goals in those as well. They are going up against a newly promoted Southampton side that was good in the Championship last season, but that does not always translate to the Premier League as the jump is very big and a lot of these newly promoted sides tend to struggle to stay up. Southampton also lacks a lot of talent and quality in their squad that Newcastle has and the last time they were in the Premier League just 2 seasons ago, Newcastle beat them in 4 different matches, completing the double on them during the season while also beating them in both legs of the EFL Cup. Newcastle has refined their squad this season and they will be eager to show in this 1st match of the season that they can once again be contenders for top 4 in the Premier League this season. Newcastle will win this match at home by 2 or more goals, take Newcastle -1.5 here.
England Premier League: Newcastle -1.5, Rot. 200014