Jaissle’s Newcastle Era Begins Against Liverpool with Key Injuries

A new chapter begins at St James’ Park on Sunday. Newcastle United, now under Matthias Jaissle, open their Premier League campaign against Liverpool — and they do it with key pieces missing.

The German coach has barely had time to settle on Tyneside before being hit by the realities of a turbulent summer. Major departures have reshaped the squad, and the injury list has already started to bite.

According to The Shields Gazette’s Jordan Cronin, Joelinton and Tino Livramento are both expected to miss the visit of Liverpool, while Joe Willock is a serious doubt after limping out of Newcastle’s final preseason friendly against Strasbourg. Willock’s situation comes with an extra twist: he has been linked with a move to Besiktas, which could yet be resolved before matchday one.

Joelinton setback stalls his return

Joelinton’s absence is a particularly heavy blow. The Brazilian had just fought his way back from the muscle injury that cut short his 2025-26 season, featuring in preseason outings against Valencia and Everton. Then came another problem.

Cronin reports that Newcastle’s trip to Leeds United on 14 September is now pencilled in as his likely return date.

“Now with Joelinton, a player who's unfortunately injured, so he will be missing a couple of weeks as it looks right now,” Jaissle 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 build his midfield structure around power, pressing and vertical runs, losing Joelinton again strips away a cornerstone before a competitive ball has even been kicked.

Livramento still waiting on his moment

On the opposite flank, Livramento hasn’t played a single minute of preseason. The right back has been sidelined since a calf injury forced him to withdraw from England’s World Cup squad, and while he is edging closer to fitness, Sunday comes too soon.

Cronin notes that Newcastle’s trip to Tottenham on 29 August is currently viewed as his potential comeback date.

Without Livramento, Jaissle loses one of his most dynamic outlets from deep. Against a Liverpool side that presses high and punishes sloppy build-up, that lack of natural right-sided balance could shape how Newcastle set up out of possession.

Willock worry adds to Jaissle’s early tests

Willock is the great unknown. The midfielder was forced off late in the friendly against Strasbourg, and Cronin reports that the exact nature of the injury has not yet been confirmed. A groin issue has been suggested, but there is no firm timeline for his return.

For a squad already short of established midfielders, that uncertainty is almost as damaging as a confirmed layoff. Jaissle must plan for Liverpool without knowing whether one of his key runners between the lines will be available at all — or even still at the club.

Liverpool arrive with their 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 game, while several others remain doubtful for the trip north.

So both managers walk into the opener juggling absences, tactical tweaks and unanswered questions. For Jaissle, though, this is his first real glimpse of the Premier League spotlight, and he must navigate it without Joelinton, without Livramento, and possibly without Willock.

How quickly he solves that puzzle will say plenty about what this Newcastle “new era” is really built on.