Newcastle United’s preparations for the new Premier League season are firmly underway, with little under four weeks to go until their opener.
Eddie Howe’s side beat National League side Carlisle United 4-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly last weekend before spending five days at a training camp in Austria.
They returned to the United Kingdom for yesterday’s friendly against Scottish Premiership champions Celtic and now head to East Asia, first to Singapore to face Arsenal before going up against the K-League All Stars and Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul.
Pre-season concludes with a weekend double header at St James’ Park as La Liga, with La Liga sides Espanyol and Atletico Madrid the visitors. And then the competitive campaign begins as United visit Aston Villa on Saturday, August 16 (kick-off 12:30pm).
Newcastle have completed the £55million signing of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest but will hope for at least one or two more new faces in time for the visit to Villa Park. With Champions League football to contend with this season, Howe knows the importance of strengthening to squad to ensure they are robust enough to compete across various competitions.
Ahead of the new season, we asked AI’s Grok to predict how the 2025-26 Premier League table will finish - and here are the final standings.
5. Wolverhampton Wanderers - 16th
Wolves’ 2024/25 season has seen them climb from relegation fears, but losing stars like Matheus Cunha could hurt. A lower mid-table finish is likely unless they reinvest wisely. | Wolves via Getty Images
6. Fulham - 15th
Fulham’s stability under Marco Silva ensures a mid-table finish. Their 2024/25 form suggests they can compete but lack the firepower for a European push. | Getty Images
7. Bournemouth - 14th
Bournemouth’s 2024/25 season has been impressive, with their press and Antoine Semenyo’s form earning praise. A ninth-place finish is possible, but maintaining that level with key departures will be tough. | Getty Images
8. Crystal Palace - 13th
Palace’s strong 2024/25 under Oliver Glasner, driven by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 33 goals over two seasons, suggests a stable mid-table finish. Their attacking flair could push them higher, but depth issues may cap their ceiling. | Getty Images