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 the friendly defeat against Scottish Premiership champions Celtic and now find themselves in East Asia, first to Singapore to face Arsenal on Sunday 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.
13. Nottingham Forest - 7th
Forest’s surprising 2024/25 success (33.6% chance of top-five finish) under Nuno Espírito Santo makes them a dark horse. Their counter-attacking style and defensive solidity could sustain a European push, but a top-six finish feels ambitious for 2025/26 without significant signings. | Getty Images
14. Aston Villa - 6th
Villa’s 2024/25 season (40.5% chance of top-five finish) under Unai Emery highlights their depth and Ollie Watkins’ goal-scoring prowess. Their ability to balance European and domestic competitions makes them a solid top-six candidate, though they may fall short of the top four due to stronger competition. | Getty Images
15. Chelsea - 5th
Chelsea’s inconsistent 2024/25 season (54.0% chance of top-five finish) under Enzo Maresca shows promise but lacks cohesion. Their talented squad, bolstered by young prospects like Tyrique George, could gel further by 2025/26. However, their lower backing from pundits (only one of ten predicts a top-five finish) and PSR-driven sales could limit progress. A top-five spot feels achievable if Maresca refines his system. | Getty Images
16. Newcastle United - 4th
Newcastle’s strong 2024/25 campaign under Eddie Howe positions them as Champions League contenders. Players like Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimarães are pivotal, and their ability to manage a congested schedule will be key. Their projected top-four finish in some simulations reflects growing squad depth and tactical maturity. | Getty Images