Newcastle United legend, Alan Shearer, has made a bold prediction for his former club's performance this season. Despite the team's struggles last campaign, Shearer is optimistic about their chances and expects them to secure a spot in the top four.
Last season saw Newcastle United finish in 7th place with 60 points. However, Alan Shearer believes that the Magpies can rebound from this setback and qualify for the Champions League. This wouldn't be an unprecedented feat as they managed to secure fourth place back in 2023.
Shearer’s optimism towards Eddie Howe’s side is not surprising given his history with the club. Despite stiff competition at the top of the Premier League table, he consistently backs his former team to perform well.
Squad strength and key players
The summer did not see significant strengthening of Newcastle's squad which might suggest that securing a fourth-place finish could be challenging. However, they have managed to retain some key players which could prove crucial for their campaign.
Two such players are Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes whose retention is seen as a big boost for Newcastle. There were concerns that due to Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, these key assets might have been offloaded by The Magpies.
Guimaraes had a £100m release clause in his contract but no team met this fee before its expiration date in June - much to fans' relief. Similarly, despite rumors linking Isak with Arsenal and Chelsea over recent months, no formal bids were lodged for him either.
Final Premier League table Predictions
In addition to backing Newcastle United for success this season, BBC Match of The Day pundit Alan Shearer has also predicted where every other team will finish on the league table:
- He expects Arsenal will win the league.
- Manchester City and Liverpool are predicted to join Newcastle in the top four.
- Manchester United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, West Ham, Chelsea and Fulham are expected to make up the rest of his top half.
- Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Everton are predicted to take positions 11th to 17th respectively.
- The three newly promoted teams: Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City are expected by Shearer to go straight back down.
These predictions offer an exciting insight into what could be a thrilling Premier League season. Whether or not Shearer's predictions will come true remains to be seen but one thing is for sure - football fans around the world will be watching with bated breath.
