Totally unique Newcastle United circumstances – Giving perfect clarity after rare setback | OneFootball

These Newcastle United circumstances, totally unique.

When it comes to dissecting anything, they can’t be ignored.

Cast your mind back to 9 March 2025.

After the Premier League matches had been played that day, Liverpool were top on 70 points.

The next domestic game for the red scousers at that point was to be seven days later at Wembley, overwhelming favourites to beat Newcastle United in the League Cup Final.

More importantly, by the time the Premier League matches were concluded on Sunday 9 March, Newcastle United were ninth in the Premier League table on 44 points.

United had a game in hand on most other teams but tough (grim?) reality was that Eddie Howe’s side by close of play on Sunday 9 March 2025 were:

11 points behind Arsenal

10 points behind Forest

5 points behind Chelsea

4 points behind Man City

3 points behind Brighton

1 point behind Aston Villa

behind Bournemouth on goal difference

Exactly six weeks later, one trophy (first in 56 years), one victory parade and six Premier League matches played by Newcastle United, this was the Premier League table on the morning of Sunday 20 April 2025:

As things stand on this Sunday morning, compared to end of play on Sunday 9 March, Newcastle United are:

7 points better off on Arsenal

12 points better off on Forest

10 points better off on Chelsea

5 points better off on Man City

14 points better off on Brighton

3 points better off on Villa

10 points better off on Bournemouth

This is the reality.

Yes, I know a few of these clubs still have to play this weekend BUT you get the message, or at least you should…

These are the seven matches Newcastle United have played since Sunday 9 March 2025:

10 March – West Ham 0 Newcastle 1

16 March – Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2

2 April – Newcastle 2 Brentford 1

7 April – Leicester 0 Newcastle 3

13 April – Newcastle 4 Man U 1

16 April – Newcastle 5 Palace 0

19 April – Aston Villa 4 Newcastle 1

When I refer to ‘unique circumstances’ with Newcastle United, I am meaning this:

Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Joelinton, Bruno, Barnes, Isak, Murphy

If any Newcastle United fans are wanting to go after these players after Villa Park on Saturday (against a Villa side who had won nine of their last ten matches) then very much worth thinking about this.

These are exactly the same eleven players who have started all of these last seven NUFC matches.

They are the players who totally outplayed and outclassed Liverpool (should have won by three or four against the scousers) at Wembley to lift the first trophy in 56 years AND they are the same eleven players who have started all of these last six PL matches, that have transformed United from bit of an outside chance to now one of the hot favourites to get a Champions League place.

If you are going to go over the top on them for a defeat at a Villa side in top form themselves then remember to also blame them for winning that silverware and putting us on track for Champions League.

Aston Villa 4 Newcastle 1 – Saturday 19 April 2025 5.30pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Schar 18

Villa

Watkins 1 Maatsen 64, Burn OG 73, Onana 75

Possession was Newcastle 51% Villa 49%

Total shots were Newcastle 10 Villa 23

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Villa 9

Corners were Newcastle 7 Villa 7

Touches in the box Newcastle 36 Villa 31

Newcastle team v Aston Villa:

Pope, Trippier (Krafth 76), Schar (Targett 82), Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Willock 76), Isak (Wilson 76), Murphy (Gordon 65)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Osula, Miley, Longstaff