Newcastle United Faces Injury Woes Ahead of Liverpool Clash

A new Premier League season, a new man in the dugout, and already a new set of problems for Newcastle United.

Matthias Jaissle’s first competitive game in charge comes with Liverpool rolling into St James’ Park on Sunday, but the German coach will have to navigate his debut without some key pieces of his squad and with others wrapped in doubt.

Jaissle’s injury headache

The summer has already been turbulent enough, with notable departures and a reshaped dressing room. Now the treatment room is adding to the upheaval.

According to The Shields Gazette’s Jordan Cronin, Joelinton and Tino Livramento are expected to miss the opener, while Joe Willock is a major doubt after limping out of Newcastle’s final preseason friendly against Strasbourg. That’s before any potential move to Besiktas, which continues to hover over Willock’s situation heading into matchday one.

Joelinton’s case is particularly frustrating for Newcastle. The Brazilian fought back from the muscle injury that cut short his 2025-26 campaign, featuring in preseason outings against Valencia and Everton, only to suffer another setback. Cronin reports that the club is now targeting the Sept. 14 trip to Leeds United for his return.

Jaissle did not sugar-coat the blow.

“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.”

For a manager trying to stamp his identity on a side in transition, losing one of the team’s most influential and versatile midfielders strips away both physical presence and tactical flexibility.

Livramento still sidelined

On the right flank, there is no relief.

Tino Livramento has yet to kick a ball in preseason after the calf injury that forced him out of England’s World Cup squad. His recovery is progressing, but not quickly enough for Sunday. Cronin notes that Newcastle’s Aug. 29 trip to Tottenham is currently pencilled in as his likely comeback date.

Without Livramento, Jaissle’s options at right-back narrow, limiting how aggressively he can set up his full-backs against a Liverpool side that thrives on exploiting space in wide areas.

Willock clouded by injury and uncertainty

Then comes the wild card: Joe Willock.

The midfielder was forced off late in the friendly against Strasbourg, with the exact nature of the issue still unclear. A groin problem has been suggested, but as Cronin reports, there is no firm diagnosis and no meaningful timeline for his return yet.

That uncertainty is compounded by transfer noise. Willock has been linked with a move to Besiktas, raising the possibility that Newcastle could be without him on Sunday for reasons either medical, contractual, or both.

For Jaissle, it means planning for Liverpool without knowing whether one of his key runners from midfield will be available at all this month.

Liverpool’s own absentees

The visitors arrive with their own problems.

Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez have all been ruled out of Sunday’s clash, trimming Liverpool’s depth before a ball has been kicked in the league campaign. Several others are considered doubtful for the trip to Tyneside, leaving questions over how strong a side Liverpool can field away from home.

Even so, this remains one of the most demanding fixtures Newcastle will face early in the season, and Jaissle must find solutions quickly.

Newcastle’s new era begins under the lights of St James’ Park, against a heavyweight opponent, with a patched-up squad and a manager already forced into improvisation. How bold can he be with Joelinton and Livramento sidelined and Willock in limbo?