Leeds United will be looking to round off the calendar year of 2022 with a win when they make the trip to Newcastle United. The Whites will face the most in-form team in the Premier League on New Year's Eve with the Magpies having won 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Newcastle have also lost just once in the league this season with none of those having come at St. James' Park, meaning Leeds will have their work cut out to get a result. The foundations of Newcastle's superb campaign so far has come from the fact they have managed to keep a very settled side.
And that starts in defence, with Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn making up an extremely solid back five. They have started all but four matches together, helping the Magpies boast the current best defensive record in the whole division with just 11 goals conceded.
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Eddie Howe will be reluctant to make too many changes from the emphatic 3-0 win at Leicester City on Boxing Day, though one could come in midfield. Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock was the preferred trio at the King Power, but Allan Saint-Maximin will be chomping at the bit for a start.
Given Leeds are weak at defending wide areas, Saint-Maximin could come in on the left, allowing Joelinton to move back into the engine room instead of Willock. Chris Wood and Miguel Almiron look set to make up the remainder of the XI, with Callum Wilson likely return on the bench after illness, and Alexander Isak still out with injury.
Predicted Newcastle XI: Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, Dan Burn; Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Miguel Almiron, Chris Wood, Allan Saint-Maximin
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