Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: 888sport

West Ham travel to St James’ Park on Sunday evening for what could be their final Premier League away match for at least a year, as they face Newcastle United with their top‑flight survival hanging in the balance.

Depending on results elsewhere, the visitors could already see their fate sealed before the final matchday, adding further tension to this crucial encounter.

Newcastle

Newcastle entered gameweek 36 still carrying a faint mathematical risk of relegation, but a point away at Nottingham Forest proved enough to eliminate any lingering danger. Still, the 1–1 draw at the City Ground once again highlighted a recurring issue for Eddie Howe’s side, as Harvey Barnes’ opener was eventually cancelled out by a strike from former Magpies midfielder Elliot Anderson.

That result continued a worrying trend. Newcastle have now dropped 27 points from winning positions this season, more than any other team in the Premier League. Had they held onto those leads, they would astonishingly be in title contention rather than languishing in 13th place.

Equally troubling is their inability to recover when falling behind, with the Magpies collecting just three points from losing positions. Defensive lapses late in matches have also been costly, as they have conceded 20 goals in the final 15 minutes, another league‑high figure.

There have been some positives of late. Newcastle have taken four points from their last two matches, improving on a run that saw them collect just a single point from their previous five games. At home, they continue to pose a significant threat, having scored at least twice in 13 of their 18 Premier League matches at St James’ Park this season, including four of their last six.

Team News

Selection decisions remain under scrutiny. Anthony Gordon’s continued absence from the starting lineup has drawn attention, particularly amid reports linking him with a move to Bayern Munich, and Howe’s recent comments suggest he may again begin on the bench.

By contrast, Harvey Barnes strengthened his case for inclusion after scoring as a substitute against Forest, taking his tally to 16 goals and 21 direct goal involvements across all competitions this season.

Newcastle will have to cope without several players. Lewis Miley, Emil Krafth, Tino Livramento and Fabian Schär remain sidelined through injury, while Joelinton has emerged as a fresh concern following a minor thigh issue sustained during the week.

West Ham

West Ham arrive in the North East under growing pressure, particularly after failing to score in consecutive matches. Their most recent outing, a 1–0 defeat to league leaders Arsenal, ended in controversy after a late equaliser from Callum Wilson was disallowed following a VAR review.

The decision centred on a foul on David Raya, with Pablo adjudged to have impeded the goalkeeper in the build‑up. The moment sparked widespread debate, especially as Raya’s shirt was also being pulled by Jean‑Clair Todibo, fuelling further discussion about officiating consistency and the application of the “clear and obvious” standard.

That result has left the Hammers in 18th place, two points behind Tottenham Hotspur, and forced them into a must‑win situation on Sunday to keep their survival hopes alive heading into the final round of fixtures. The threat of relegation looms large, and anything less than victory would leave them reliant on results elsewhere.

Away form paints a concerning picture. West Ham have failed to score in their last three league matches on the road and could go four consecutive away games without a goal for the first time since May 2015. Coincidentally, the final match in that sequence was also at Newcastle.

There are, however, reasons for optimism. The Hammers secured a 2–0 victory at St James’ Park in last season’s corresponding fixture and also triumphed 3–1 at home against Newcastle earlier this campaign. Another win would complete a rare Premier League double over the Magpies.

Team News

Adama Traoré is unavailable due to a quadriceps injury, but otherwise West Ham are expected to field a similar squad to the one that pushed Arsenal closely. Nuno Espírito Santo’s shift to a 3‑4‑2‑1 system showed promise, and a similar approach is likely again.

The main selection decision comes in attack. Callum Wilson came close to scoring against his former club last weekend, though his effort was ruled out, while he has already netted twice against Bournemouth earlier this season. Despite that, he is likely to make way for Taty Castellanos, who is expected to lead the line in this critical encounter.

Conclusion

With Newcastle continuing to struggle to protect leads and West Ham desperately searching for goals, this encounter promises tension and unpredictability. The hosts’ recent record of high‑scoring home games suggests that both sides are likely to find the net once again.

While West Ham may finally end their goal drought, the pressure of the occasion and their inconsistent attacking output could still hinder their chances of securing victory. Newcastle, despite their own shortcomings, possess enough attacking firepower to respond, leaving the visitors potentially reliant on other results to keep their survival hopes alive.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: 888sport