I asked AI to predict West Ham v Newcastle United in the Premier League - and here's the results
Discover how AI analysis sees Newcastle United’s Premier League clash with West Ham United at the London Stadium playing out.
Like it or loathe it, we live a world where AI - or artificial intelligence - is creeping into every corner of society.
Long gone are the days of predictive text or autocorrect being your only daily dalliance with an industry that was formerly resigned to the big screen or fiction.
Now, it’s in everything, and can do virtually everything, too - including, it seems, predict Premier League football results.
So, we asked X’s own AI, Grok, to get its crystal ball out and predict what would happen as Newcastle United take on West Ham United in the Premier League at the London Stadium looking to . And here’s what it said.
The context
Grok thinks injuries and availability will play a huge factor in this one.
It explains: “West Ham have been inconsistent this season but did beat Newcastle earlier in the campaign (November 25, 2024). They’ve had a mixed run at home, with a recent win against Leicester City boosting morale. However, injuries are a concern: Michail Antonio and Crysencio Summerville are ruled out, while Vladimir Coufal, Lucas Paqueta, and Niclas Fullkrug are doubtful but nearing returns. If key players like Paqueta and Coufal recover, their midfield and defense could be significantly strengthened. Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek have been pivotal, with Soucek scoring against Newcastle previously.”
Adding yet more context, on the Magpies, it adds: “Newcastle have had an up-and-down season. Their recent FA Cup exit against Brighton and a league loss to Liverpool indicate vulnerabilities. Injuries are also a factor: Alexander Isak’s status is uncertain after a substitution due to injury, Anthony Gordon is suspended, and Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, and Jamaal Lascelles are out. This leaves their attack and defense stretched, though players like Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson could step up.”
The prediction: West Ham ?? Newcastle United ??
Right, it’s fair to say positivity was such a January trend for Newcastle United. Can we maybe go back there? It was nice while it lasted.
Anyway, in that vein, Grok also doesn’t think much for the Magpies’ chances.
“Historically, Newcastle have a slight edge, winning 60 of 144 matches against West Ham’s 43, with many draws. However, recent encounters have been high-scoring and competitive, with 32 goals in the last seven meetings (averaging over 4 per game). West Ham’s 2-0 win earlier this season broke a five-game winless streak against Newcastle in the league. They average 1.90 goals per match overall and have a high-scoring away record (over 1.5 goals in 94.74% of away games). However, without Gordon and potentially Isak, their attacking fluency may suffer. Their defence has conceded 1.32 goals per game, which could be tested by West Ham’s improving attack.
“West Ham struggle to keep clean sheets against Newcastle (none in their last 10 league meetings), but their defensive solidity in the November win (with Lukasz Fabianski’s key saves) shows potential for improvement. Newcastle’s home defence has been strong, but their away form is less convincing, conceding in most recent road games. At home, they average 1.35 goals per match and have scored over 1.5 goals in 80% of their home games this season (per web results). Their counter-attacking style, led by Bowen, could exploit Newcastle’s depleted backline. Soucek’s aerial threat from set pieces is another weapon.
“Playing at the London Stadium gives West Ham an edge, as Newcastle have lost two of their last three league games away against them.”
And for the scoreline?
It thinks West Ham United will win 2-1. The justification? It says: “West Ham’s improving form, home advantage, and Newcastle’s depleted squad suggest a narrow victory. Both teams are likely to score due to their attacking tendencies and recent defensive lapses, but West Ham’s key players (Bowen, Soucek) could capitalize on Newcastle’s vulnerabilities.”