Newcastle United's Premier League Challenge Under Matthias Jaissle
A new era at St James’ Park begins under a cloud of early problems.
Matthias Jaissle takes charge of Newcastle United in the Premier League for the first time on Sunday, with Liverpool the visitors and the injury list already forcing the German to reshuffle his plans.
Jaissle’s first big headache
The summer has stripped Newcastle of several familiar faces and shifted the dressing-room landscape. Now injuries are biting before a ball is kicked in the league.
Joelinton and Tino Livramento are expected to miss the opener, according to The Shields Gazette’s Jordan Cronin, while Joe Willock is a major doubt after limping out of the final preseason friendly against Strasbourg – assuming a move to Besiktas does not go through before matchday one.
For a coach trying to stamp his identity on a remodelled squad, it is far from ideal.
Joelinton blow after brief return
Joelinton’s situation stings in particular. The Brazilian fought back from the muscle injury that cut short his 2025-26 campaign, featuring against Valencia and Everton in preseason. Just as he seemed ready to reclaim his place at the heart of Newcastle’s midfield, another problem struck.
Cronin reports that the club are now targeting the Sept. 14 trip to Leeds United for his return.
“Now with Joelinton, a player who's unfortunately injured, so he will be missing a couple of weeks as it looks right now,” Jaissle said. “This is something we need to solve as soon as possible. Well, he will miss for sure the first weeks, but all details will be followed.”
The message is clear: Jaissle knows he must find answers in his squad quickly, without one of his most influential players.
Livramento still waiting
On the right flank, Livramento’s absence continues to drag on. He has not played a minute of preseason after the calf injury that forced him out of England’s World Cup squad, and his recovery is still being carefully managed.
He is edging closer, but not close enough. Sunday comes too early, with Cronin indicating the Aug. 29 trip to Tottenham as the likely date for his return.
Newcastle will have to cope without his energy and one‑v‑one defending against a Liverpool side that loves to overload the wide areas.
Willock doubt adds to midfield uncertainty
Willock adds another layer of uncertainty. The midfielder was forced off late in the Strasbourg friendly, and the exact nature of the injury has not yet been confirmed. A groin issue has been suggested, but there is no firm timeline on when he will be back.
That leaves Jaissle facing the prospect of opening his Premier League tenure without three players who, in different ways, shape Newcastle’s athleticism and intensity between the lines.
Liverpool’s own absentees
Liverpool arrive with problems of their own. Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez have all been ruled out of the trip to Tyneside, while several others remain doubtful for the journey to St James’ Park.
Both managers, then, will step into the new season juggling absences and improvising solutions.
For Newcastle, the question is stark: with Joelinton and Livramento definitely out and Willock a major doubt, how quickly can Jaissle bend this reshaped squad to his will against one of the league’s most ruthless opponents?
