Newcastle United's Injury Woes Ahead of Liverpool Clash
A new season, a new man in the dugout, and already a new set of problems.
Matthias Jaissle’s reign at Newcastle United officially begins on Sunday with Liverpool rolling into St James’ Park, but the German coach will start this “new era” with key pieces missing from his puzzle.
Jaissle’s first big headache
The summer exodus has already forced Jaissle to reshape his squad. Now injuries are stripping away more options before a ball is kicked in the Premier League.
Joelinton and Tino Livramento are expected to sit out the opener, according to The Shields Gazette’s Jordan Cronin, while Joe Willock is a serious doubt after limping off in Newcastle’s final preseason friendly against Strasbourg. Willock’s situation is complicated further by ongoing links to a move to Besiktas, which could yet take him out of the equation entirely before matchday one.
Jaissle has been blunt about the scale of the challenge.
“Now with Joelinton, a player who's unfortunately injured, so he will be missing a couple of weeks as it looks right now,” he 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.”
Joelinton setback halts comeback
The blow with Joelinton stings more because it comes just as he seemed to be turning a corner.
The Brazilian had only just returned to action in preseason against Valencia and Everton after the muscle injury that cut short his 2025-26 campaign. That comeback has been abruptly interrupted by another problem, with Cronin reporting that Newcastle’s trip to Leeds United on September 14 is the current target for his return.
For a coach trying to stamp his identity on a midfield, losing a physical, all-action presence like Joelinton for the opening stretch is a major tactical and emotional hit.
Livramento’s wait goes on
On the right flank, the story is different but just as frustrating.
Tino Livramento hasn’t featured at all in preseason. A calf injury forced him out of England’s World Cup squad and he has been sidelined since, working his way back while the rest of the team has tried to find rhythm under a new manager.
The defender is edging closer to fitness, but not quickly enough for Liverpool. Cronin lists Newcastle’s trip to Tottenham on August 29 as the likely date for his return, making Sunday’s clash a step too far.
So Jaissle’s first Premier League lineup will be drawn up without his dynamic right-back and one of his most influential midfielders. Not ideal when Mohamed Salah and company are the first visitors.
Willock adds uncertainty
If Joelinton and Livramento are clear absentees, Willock sits in the grey area.
The midfielder was forced off late in the friendly against Strasbourg, with the exact nature of the issue still unconfirmed. A groin problem has been suggested, but there is no firm timeline for his comeback and no guarantee he will be available at all for the opener.
That uncertainty leaves Jaissle planning for multiple scenarios: a midfield missing one regular, maybe two, against one of the league’s most aggressive pressing sides.
Liverpool’s own absentees
Liverpool do not arrive at St James’ Park unscathed.
Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez have all been ruled out of Sunday’s match. Several others remain doubtful for the trip north, leaving their own manager to juggle options before naming his first league XI of the campaign.
Even so, Liverpool’s depth and attacking firepower ensure Newcastle’s margin for error is slim.
Jaissle knew this job would be demanding. The injuries just mean his first big test comes faster, and harder, than anyone on Tyneside might have hoped.
