Club football is back after taking time off for the latest international break, and the 2025/26 Premier League season will resume with Gameweek 8 this weekend. The latest round of fixtures begins with the match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea before continuing with five simultaneous ties, including Brighton & Hove Albion vs Newcastle United at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton & Hove Albion have endured a topsy-turvy ride thus far in the 2025/26 season, as has been the theme with them throughout their all-time Premier League journey. The Seagulls have won and lost as many games, accumulating nine points to sit in the 12th spot in the Premier League standings. However, Fabian Hurzeler’s men have been exceptional in the EFL Cup, and the fans will be optimistic about a long run in the competition.
On the other hand, Newcastle United may have started recovering from a slow start to the 2025/26 season. The Alexander Isak saga hindered the Tyneside outfit in the first few weeks of the ongoing campaign, but Nick Woltemade has eased the team’s woes.
The Magpies have lost only one of their last five Premier League clashes, and that defeat will have left them disgruntled due to questionable decisions. However, Eddie Howe’s charges have not been as prolific as the manager would have liked, although the comprehensive victory over Union Saint-Gilloise has provided cause for optimism.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Newcastle United come from a goal down to hold Brighton & Hove Albion to a 1-1 draw, with Alexander Isak scoring a late equaliser. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Fabian Hurzeler has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. However, the Brighton & Hove Albion manager may be bereft of the services of over half a dozen first-team players vs Newcastle United on Saturday.
Adam Webster (knee), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), Solly March (knee), and Brajan Gruda (knee) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Hurzeler has been sweating over the fitness of Joel Veltman (calf), Diego Gomez (thigh), and Kaoru Mitoma (ankle). The trio will face late fitness tests to determine their availability.
Bart Verbruggen is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Brighton & Hove Albion lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Newcastle United on Saturday. The backline will feature Mats Wieffer, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, and Ferdi Kadioglu.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari in the double pivot, although the former has not been consistent since the summer transfer window closes. Georginio Rutter will reprise the no. 10 role, with Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma being the two wide attackers. Finally, Danny Welbeck will lead the line for Brighton & Hove Albion against Newcastle United on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Ayari, Baleba; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck
Like his counterpart in the Brighton & Hove Albion dugout, Eddie Howe has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Amex Stadium. The Newcastle United manager may be without half a dozen first-team players on Saturday.
Valentino Livramento (knee), Lewis Hall (hamstring), and Yoane Wissa (knee) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Howe has been sweating over the fitness of Jacob Ramsey (ankle), Lewis Miley (calf), and Joelinton (match fitness).
Nick Pope will retain his spot between the sticks, with Newcastle United lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. The backline will feature Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, and Dan Burn.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton in the middle of the park, with the latter likely to be fit enough to start. Finally, Nick Woltemade will spearhead the Newcastle United attack against Brighton & Hove Albion, with Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon
While Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter, and Anthony Gordon were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Nick Woltemade as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United on Saturday.
The German international has scored three goals in four Premier League games, although each strike has come at St. James’ Park. The only players to score four or more goals in their first five appearances for Newcastle United in the competition are Les Ferdinand (4), Michael Owen (4), Loic Remy (5), and Callum Wilson (4). So, Woltemade will be the go-to man for Eddie Howe as he looks to join the elusive list this weekend.
Newcastle United may have started showing signs of a turnaround, but they have a dreadful record in the Premier League against Brighton & Hove Albion. Additionally, the visitors have one of the poorest conversion rates in the Premier League this term. Meanwhile, the Seagulls are the embodiment of a “never say die” attitude, which will reflect on Saturday.
However, Eddie Howe has a solid defensive unit, which will not give an inch this weekend apart from a few openings. So, Saturday’s match has all the makings of a closely-contested stalemate, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw between Brighton and Newcastle United.
