The first Saturday lunchtime kick-off of the 2025–26 Premier League season sees Aston Villa take on Newcastle United at Villa Park.

These two teams entered the final day of last term boasting Champions League aspirations, and Villa would've qualified for UEFA's premier club competition had they beaten Manchester United. Instead, they lost 2–0, unaided by the controversial ruling out of Morgan Rogers' opening goal .

Newcastle were beaten at home by Everton, but Villa's loss meant they secured a fifth-place finish.

Thus, the Magpies were expected to "kick on" this summer, but the transfer window has been nothing short of a nightmare. Most significantly, their star of last season, Alexander Isak, wants out , and Eddie Howe hasn't yet improved his squad to the degree he would've liked.

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