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.
9. Manchester United - 12th
United’s 2024/25 season has been dismal, with Ruben Amorim calling it the “worst squad in club history.” A projected 12th-place finish in 2025/26 reflects ongoing struggles. A mid-table finish is likely unless Amorim turns things around. | Getty Images
10. Everton - 11th
Everton’s move to their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and potential new ownership could spark a revival. Their 2024/25 season has been relegation-adjacent, but a 11th-place projection for 2025/26 suggests incremental progress. | Getty Images
11. West Ham - 10th
West Ham’s struggles under Julen Lopetegui (four wins in 17 games) and Graham Potter’s shaky tenure suggest a transitional 2025/26. A mid-table finish seems likely unless results improve significantly. | Getty Images
12. Brighton & Hove Albion - 9th
Brighton’s innovative approach under Fabian Hurzeler has kept them competitive, but their 2024/25 form (mid-table) suggests a ceiling. Their attacking style and young squad could secure a top-half finish, especially with improved injury management. | Getty Images