Saturday setbacks for Newcastle United | OneFootball

Things could have gone better for Newcastle United today.

A Saturday afternoon featuring setbacks for NUFC.

A big weekend of Premier League matches involving those fighting for the Champions League qualifying places.

The early Saturday afternoon match was Forest v Man City, where arguably it was a 50/50 choice whether a draw or Man City winning was the best result for Newcastle United.

A poor game of few real chances looking to be heading for a goalless draw, which would have been ok for NUFC.

However, an 83rd minute goal from Callum Hudson-Odoi won the game for Forest and sends them seven points clear of Newcastle United. For me it will be difficult for United to finish above Man City in the table, though Newcastle will go level on points with Pep Guardiola’s side if winning at West Ham.

In the 3pm kick-offs, it would have been better if relegation threatened Ipswich had got something today at Selhurst Park.

That game looked destined as well for 0-0, until Sarr scored to win it for Palace on 82 minutes. I don’t think Palace will compete for the Champions League places but they are climbing the table and are now only five points behind Newcastle United.

Along with the Forest result, I think the Amex Stadium outcome is the joint worst.

A draw would have been ideal as that would have kept Brighton and Fulham both still below Newcastle United.

It was 1-1 heading into added time and in the eighth minute of the added time, Brighton scored with a penalty to win it and go two points above United. Brighton getting late season momentum and the only positive is that Fulham remain two points below Newcastle.

An interesting one at Anfield, as rock bottom Southampton led at the break.

However, two goals early in the second half turned it around for Liverpool. Interesting though that Arne Slot played a strong team and was forded to keep the likes of Salah and Van Dijk on until the very end, as the scousers only scored a third with 88 minutes on the clock, Alexander-Arnold only subbed off late on. This follows Wednesday when Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold played the full match and Salah only subbed off late on. With a huge game against PSG on Tuesday when Arne Slot is sure to play his very strongest team, it is a lot of football for Liverpool’s best players to be playing ahead of the Carabao Cup Final.

This is how the table looks on late Saturday afternoon (8 March 2025) before the later two Saturday Premier League fixtures are played:

These are the remaining Premier League matches to be played this weekend.

Saturday 8 March

Brentford v Villa  (5.30pm)

Wolves v Everton (8pm)

Chelsea v Leicester (2pm)

Spurs v Bournemouth (2pm)