Paul Merson gives Newcastle United appraisal as we are now into 2026

Paul Merson speaking about Newcastle United.

NUFC with five months of the season having gone by.

Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United players having now moved into 2026.

A very intense period of time with Newcastle playing every midweek, due to Champions League and Carabao Cup, as well as Premier League, with the FA Cup also now fast approaching this weekend.

Eddie Howe and his team preparing for their next match.

An 8.15pm kick-off tonight, Home to Leeds United.

Paul Merson discussing how things now stand for Newcastle United as they prepare for this St James’ Park clash.

Ahead of tonight’s match, Paul Merson declaring to Sportskeeda; “Newcastle weren’t great the other day. Even though they won 2-0 against Crystal Palace, I wasn’t really impressed by the performance. I was surprised that Nick Woltemade did not come off the bench quicker in that game. Newcastle were up against a back three and he would have been useful from the start.”

Newcastle weren’t outstanding by any means BUT they were up against a tricky opposition who have some really good players and an excellent manager. Yes, Palace are missing players (as Newcastle still are), but fact is that they arrived at St James’ Park having only conceded nine goals in their nine previous PL away matches AND had a record of five away wins, one draw and just three defeats.

Eddie Howe’s side played decent I thought and were patient, Crystal Palace restricted to only one effort on target all match. Newcastle created pretty much all of the chances and only a combination of Dean Henderson, good defending and what could have been more clinical finishing, plus a ridiculously marginal VAR offside against Yoane Wissa, prevented United having the game won earlier.

Eddie Howe now has Yoane Wissa available and he needs him getting to full match fitness, whilst at the same time Nick Woltemade getting some hard earned time on the bench, having had to play pretty much every match in Wissa’s absence.

Newcastle United were getting more and more control and when Eddie Howe brought on three subs (Barnes, Livramento and Ramsey) on 63 minutes, that really finished Palace off. United went up another gear with the fresh legs and only eight minutes later after sustained pressure, Bruno got the opening goal. Then with Palace rocking, seven minutes later Thiaw got the second to finish them off. That came from a corner and just before that was taken, it was when Woltemade came off the bench for Wissa, his added presence doing no harm in helping to provide further problems for a Palace team who had struggled to cope with Newcastle’s set-pieces all match.

Paul Merson when speaking to Sportskeeda, also saying: “Leeds are doing really well. They’re nicking points in difficult games when West Ham are failing to win easier matches. It’s a huge boost to Leeds’ aspirations of avoiding relegation.”

He’s not wrong.

Third bottom West Ham lost 2-1 at home to Forest on Tuesday night and are now seven points behind Sean Dyche’s side and eight behind Leeds United, who have played a game less. As Paul Merson says, Leeds are picking up points and in the last seven games are unbeaten, although that has come via five draws and only two wins.

Making his match prediction, Paul Merson declares: “Considering the way both teams are playing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Leeds got something out of this game. I’m going for an entertaining [2-2] draw here.”

I don’t take any Newcastle United win for granted but I do think Eddie Howe’s side should win this.

Reality is that only Wolves and Burnley have picked up less away points than the six from thirty that Leeds have managed. Farke’s team have only scored nine goals in their ten away PL matches and five of those came in two matches, with the other eight bringing only four Leeds PL away goals. The last three Leeds away matches seeing only two goals scored in total.

In contrast, Newcastle United have had such consistent very good home form, Eddie Howe’s side have in their last 11 home games in all competitions, won nine and drawn two, whilst scoring at least two goals in all of these last 11 home matches.

I think the return of Nick Pope has made a massive difference in these last two Premier League matches, as Newcastle have picked up six points, scored five goals and only conceded the one.

Leeds have conceded 20 goals in their 10 Premier League away matches, an average of exactly two per game on their travels.

A lot of this info and form, points towards a very likely 2-0 home win for Newcastle United.