Football
Football
Match Preview
Gambling
News

Newcastle vs Aston Villa Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction

Date: January 25, 2026 Venue: St James’ Park Kickoff Time: 16:00 Welcome, Premier League betting fans, to one of English football’s great stages – St James’ Park. On Tyneside, the atmosphere is never anything short of electric, and this fixture between Newcastle and Aston Villa sets the scene for a heavyweight clash involving two sides with genuine ambitions at the top end of the table. The Magpies are driven by their passionate crowd, and when the whistle blows, they will be determined to maintain their upward trajectory and strengthen their push toward the European places. However, Villa are chasing their own European aspirations and have shown time and again that they are capable of beating the league’s best when given space and opportunity to do so. At a time when every point becomes vital and expectations increase, this matchup holds significant value that goes far beyond just three points.

Marc Strydom
Marc Strydom

Last updated: 2026-01-20

Chad Nagel

6 minutes read

SportsBoom offers honest and impartial UK bookmaker reviews to help you make informed choices. While we may earn commissions through affiliate links, our content remains independent and free from promotional influence. For more information, see our Content Transparency and How We Review pages.

Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa runs with the ball whilst under pressure

Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa/ Getty Images

St James’ Park will open its doors and become a cauldron of noise where a sea of black and white will be on full display as Newcastle welcomes Aston Villa on 25 January 2026. There is no room for error, the margins are thin, and one wrong decision could prove costly when these two teams cross the white lines in a battle that offers huge value to whoever handles the pressure best. 

Pre-Game Odds & Win Probability

  1. HOME (NEWCASTLE): 26/25 (2.04) – 49%

  2. DRAW: 27/10 (3.70) – 27%

  3. AWAY (ASTON VILLA): 49/20 (3.45) – 29%

    Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change.

Head-To-Head Record

Last five meetings (All Competitions)

  • 16/08/2025: Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle
  • 19/04/2025: Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle 
  • 26/12/2024: Newcastle 3-0 Aston Villa
  • 30/01/2024: Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle 
  • 12/08/2023: Newcastle 5-1 Aston Villa

Newcastle Current Form – DLDWW

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United possess undeniable attacking firepower, yet consistency remains the final piece in unlocking their full potential this season. At their best, the Magpies are relentless, a high-energy, aggressive pressing side capable of overwhelming opponents. Knowing the importance of every fixture, particularly toward the top, Howe will be eager to maintain their momentum going forward. 

In the last five fixtures, Newcastle has looked dangerous, but results have not fallen the way they would have wanted. Against Leeds, the Magpies edged the Whites in a seven-goal thriller, showing the willingness to fight until the end. Taking on Bournemouth in the FA Cup delivered another challenge, but Aaron Ramsdale’s heroics ensured they advanced to the next round after saving three spot kicks. 

Confidence within the camp for Howe’s men was high going into their first leg Carabao Cup semi-final with Manchester City, and despite early efforts, City were the better team on the day. On the road, Newcastle then took on Wolves before facing a stern test against PSV in the Champions League. With four days to recover and prepare, it's business as usual, which will see Newcastle focused on taking crucial points off Aston Villa.

Key Players To Watch

  • Bruno Guimaraes: If Newcastle were a machine, Guimaraes would be the engine. Smart, aggressive, and technically elite, the Brazilian is the link between defence and attack. He dictates play, sparks transitions, and gives the Magpies their identity in the midfield.
  • Harvey Barnes: Barnes offers vertical threat and penetration from wide areas. Quick, confident, and always attacking, he brings speed and edge to Newcastle’s frontline. His willingness to run at defenders and finish chances makes him a key weapon out wide.
  • Anthony Gordon: Gordon brings chaos in the best possible way. He’s fast, fearless, and full of intent, particularly in advanced areas or in one-on-one situations. Every time he gets on the ball, it feels like it could lead to something, even when it looks like there are no options. 

Newcastle Team News

Jacob Murphy (hamstring) could return to the matchday squad after recovering from a minor hamstring injury. Tino Livramento (hamstring) is set to miss the next eight weeks with a hamstring injury. Fabian Schar (ankle) had successful ankle surgery and will be sidelined for the next two to three months. 

Aston Villa Current Form – LWDWL

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have reasserted themselves as genuine top-five contenders after early-season turbulence. The Villains have become direct, remained disciplined, and been devastating in transition. They soak up pressure, spring forward with speed and precision, while punishing mistakes without hesitation. It’s controlled aggression, executed with confidence. 

Furthermore, Aston Villa has been in strong form recently, displaying rhythm and resilience. Villa outplayed Nottingham in a comfortable victory, showing real attacking threat and a team that knows exactly what they are doing, but failed to follow up against Palace and shared the spoils in a goalless draw. After dropping points to Crystal Palace, Tottenham was next in a feisty FA Cup encounter.

In a match that could have gone either way, Villa produced a moment of magic which was enough to claim victory and return to winning ways. Valuable lessons were learned against Everton and rectified in a strong performance in the Europa League against Fenerbahce. Returning to England with a tough away match against Newcastle, a clear plan and execution could potentially see Villa secure a positive result or maximum points if everything falls in their favour. 

Key Players To Watch

  • Morgan Rodgers: Rodgers has been hard to ignore and continues to impress, underlining his importance to Aston Villa. His ball-carrying ability, creative vision, and determination to take on defenders have become a serious weapon, making him increasingly influential in Emery’s system.
  • Emiliano Buendia: Buendia thrives as a connector. Operating between midfield and attack, he offers close control, intelligent movement, and creative passing that help Villa progress play and break defensive lines. He's also very composed in the final third and has a keen eye for goal. 
  • Ollie Watkins: Watkins remains the focal point in attack for Villa. His intelligent movement, relentless work rate, and clinical finishing make him a constant threat. When Villa clicks going forward, Watkins is usually at the centre of it, especially when the right service is provided.   

Aston Villa Team News

Boubacar Kamara (knee) is out for the next few weeks as he recovers from a knee injury. Amadou Onana (hamstring) is nearing a return early next month after being sidelined for the last three weeks with a hamstring injury. Ross Barkley (knee) still needs more time as he works his way back from a long-term knee injury. In transfer News, Donyell Malen has joined Italian club AS Roma on loan.

Predicted Line-Up

  1. Newcastle: 4-3-3
    Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, Barnes, Gordon, Woltemade

  2. Aston Villa: 4-2-3-1
    Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, McGinn, Rodgers, Buendia, Sancho, Watkins

Suggested Bets

Unlock your welcome bonus ahead of kickoff and put great odds to work immediately.  

  1. Both Teams To Score (Yes): Historical meetings and the attacking threat each team carries suggest goals to come from both sides. 3/5 (1.60) with Unibet.

  2. First Half – First Goal (Newcastle): Newcastle are relentless at home and will overwhelm Villa with early pressure. 23/20 (2.15) with Midnite.

  3. Total (Over 2.5): Knowing the importance and what a win could mean, both teams will be eager to find the back of the net. 63/100 (1.63) with William Hill. 

Value Bets

With informed tips and detailed analysis, these value bets give you the edge to maximize your returns. 

  1. Second Half Both Teams To Score (Yes): Both teams will come out after the break ready to attack as spaces open up and centration levels drop. 19/10 (2.90) with Betway. 

  2. Anytime Goal Scorer (Ollie Watkins): Watkins does not need a second invitation to score, and with his clinical finishing, this pick seems the perfect fit for this matchup. 8/5 (2.60) with BetMGM. 

  3. Draw (Yes): Even though this fixture suggests an open, action-packed fixture, both teams could cancel each other out and settle for a point in the end. 27/10 (3.70) with Hollywoodbets.

Prediction: Draw

Tactically, both sides prefer control and patience over reckless aggression. Newcastle typically builds from possession with measured passing and probing, while Villa are disciplined in shape and intelligent in pressing triggers. Neither team tends to abandon structure easily, making a draw a logical and likely result. 

Marc Strydom
Marc StrydomSports Writer

A dedicated sports lover with a wealth of experience in the sports betting world, Marc Strydom has mostly worked as an Editor-in-chief of a sports betting newspaper in South Africa. Marc’s enthusiasm covers many sports, though he is most passionate about football and the NBA. He has covered a wide range of topics on multiple respected platforms.

Football Match Predictions