Newcastle make the long trip down south to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

A procession was projected for the Magpies on Matchday 1 of the 2024/25 campaign but Fabian Schar’s first half red card meant they were forced to work incredibly hard for their three points against newly promoted Southampton. Joelinton sealed the win with their only shot on target.

Up next for Eddie Howe’s side is a trip to Bournemouth. The Cherries, who came on strong during Andoni Iraola’s debut season after a dire start, earned a late point at Nottingham Forest to open their account for 2024/25. Iraola’s men welcome a Newcastle side that struggled on their travels last season to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday for Bournemouth’s opening home game of the season.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Newcastle’s trip down to the south coast.

Bournemouth vs Newcastle H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

After deploying Antoine Semenyo up top at the City Ground on Matchday 1, Bournemouth can now call upon the services of Evanilson. The striker has been signed as Dominic Solanke’s replacement and is expected to make his Premier League debut on Sunday.

The Cherries are still without Tyler Adams, who could be out until November with a back injury, while David Brooks and Enes Unal are both doubts.

Ryan Christie and Philip Billing are both pushing for starts.

Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Scott, Cook; Semenyo, Christie, Sinisterra; Evanilson.

The visitors are without defender Schar after he was sent off on the opening weekend of the season. He will serve the first of his three-match ban on Sunday and be replaced by either Emil Krafth or Lloyd Kelly in Howe’s starting XI.

Newcastle are also without Callum Wilson and Lewis Miley. While Wilson could return from a back injury next month, Miley is expected to be out until October. Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman are both long-term absentees.

Newcastle predicted lineup vs Bournemouth (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Longstaff, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

Bournemouth should be buoyed by Evanilson’s mere presence as their leading man up top, even if the Brazilian takes a while to settle.

The Cherries will aim to take advantage of a depleted Newcastle defence on Sunday while shutting out a talented Magpies attack led by Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. Those two will want to enjoy productive outings having been kept on a leash last weekend following Schar’s red card.

Goals are expected on Sunday, with both sides set to struggle to contain two dynamic attacks. Newcastle won just six of their 19 away games in the league last season, with these two teams finding ways to share the spoils in recent matchups.

Prediction: Bournemouth 2-2 Newcastle

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