Follow live coverage as Newcastle United face Aston Villa today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Newcastle United FC 2 - 0 Aston Villa FC
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:36Tonali slips a throughball into Hall's path and the Newcastle left-back crosses first-time. It's across the face of goal yet again, forcing Konsa into another sliding intervention as he steers the ball behind for a corner.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:35Villa win another corner after Bailey's cross is blocked behind, but Dubravka meets this one with a much stronger hand than the previous to punch clear at the near post.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:34Bailey's first action is to swing a dangerous-looking cross into the middle from the near-side touchline, forcing Trippier to awkwardly volley it behind for a corner at the far post.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:31Murphy drills another low cross into the area with Isak arriving to tap home, but Konsa slides in front of him to send the ball behind as Villa survive yet another wave of attack.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:31OFF THE BAR!!! Martinez is caught out at the back again and gifts possession to the hosts, but after Joelinton's strike is blocked, Murphy pops up and rattles the crossbar with a flying volley, before Isak lashes the rebound well wide as Newcastle go within inches of a third goal!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:29Substitution Morgan Elliot Rogers Leon Patrick Bailey Butler
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:29Substitution Boubacar Bernard Kamara Ross Barkley
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:29BLOCKED!! The Magpies set-piece sees Burn and Joelinton both denied with close-range headers before the ball comes back out to Isak, and his first-time strike takes a deflection to skew wide with Martinez already committed!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:29Murphy's cutback for Guimaraes is struck first-time by the Brazilian, but Kamara gets in the way to block behind and it'll be another corner for Newcastle.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:28BALL IN THE NET!!! The flag denies Newcastle a third goal! McGinn is put in all sorts of trouble by Martinez's pass out of defence and soon loses the ball. It's played forward to Isak, and then Murphy, but after the latter's close-range shot is blocked, Isak comes back from an offside position to tap home, meaning the effort will not count!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:25Only Alan Shearer (27 in 2002) has now scored more goals in a calendar year for Newcastle in the Premier League than Isak's 24 in 2024, and the Sweden striker still has half an hour, plus another match against Manchester United, to try and break that record!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:20Newcastle haven't lost a Premier League game in which they scored first on the last 17 occasions (13 wins) – however, the last game they didn't win from 1-0 up was exactly a year ago, on Boxing Day 2023 against Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:20Assist Jacob Kai Murphy
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:17WIDE!! Trippier is picked out on the right by Guimaraes and hits a first-time cross into the middle, but the offside flag goes up to award a free-kick Villa's way just as Isak glances a near-post header into the side netting!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:17SAVED!!! It's one-way traffic at the moment as Guimaraes easily picks out Isak in the middle. He takes a touch before shooting on the turn, but his effort is straight into the gloves of Martinez!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:14OVER!!! Isak is released running into open space down the left again, but after his cross is blocked, Gordon recovers possession and finds Joelinton, who beats Cash in the area but can only send a woeful strike over the top from close range!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:13BLOCKED!!! McGinn's wide pass is cut out by Murphy on the edge of Villa's box, and he drives into the area before releasing a goalbound shot which Torres blocks behind for a corner!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:10CHANCE!!! Trippier's smart throughball releases Isak in behind Villa's left-side defence and he fires a low ball across the face of goal, but no-one in black and white can get there as Cash slides in to put it behind for a corner!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:07The first half couldn't have gone much better for Newcastle – or much worse for Villa – and as a result out live win probability tracker has the hosts sitting on a 88.4% chance of victory compared to Villa's 2.4%. Plenty of change can still happen though, as Watkins gets the second half underway!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:05Substitution Youri Marion A. Tielemans Oliver George Arthur Watkins
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
16:01Gordon's opening goal in the second minute got the Magpies off to a flying start, and the winger hasn't looked back yet, having four touches in the box and creating a chance from 13 final-third passes – more than anyone else on the pitch. The England international has also put in five crosses and won two of his four duels, winning two free-kicks for Newcastle in the process.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:58A high-octane opening 45 minutes come to an end at St. James' Park, with the hosts Newcastle leading 1-0 over the 10 players of Aston Villa! The Magpies were in front within less than 90 seconds, as Gordon cut inside to curl a wonder-strike into the top corner. The hosts have been on top for much of the first half, producing 0.65 xG and seeing Joelinton, Schar and Tonali all test Martinez further, as well as Guimaraes having a goal ruled out for a borderline offside. Villa, meanwhile, managed just 0.16 xG at the other end through Kamara and Digne's on-target efforts, but their task of turning this game around became much, much harder when starting striker Duran was shown a straight red card for an apparent stamp on Schar. Newcastle are in control going into the second half, and it looks like their points to lose from here on in.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:52HALF-TIME: NEWCASTLE UNITED 1-0 ASTON VILLA.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:51Strikers Duran and Watkins have been Villa's most prolific players this season, each scoring seven times, but Unai Emery will be regretting not starting Isak – for the fourth leagie game in a row – given Duran's costly red card for that stamp on Schar.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:50We're into the first of four additional minutes to close out this highly entertaining first half at St. James'.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:48SAVED!!! What a stop from Martinez!! Guimaraes barges Tielemans off the ball on the edge of his own box before teeing up Tonali, whose first-time effort is somehow clawed onto the post and wide by the Villa keeper at full stretch!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:47BALL IN THE NET!!! Newcastle think they've got a second, but the offside flag denies them! Isak plays a one-two with Guimaraes before skipping past Digne and cutting back from the byline. His cross is swept home first-time by Guimaraes, but the flag has already been raised to penalise the Magpies frontman, despite replays showing that he was in fact onside!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:46Yellow Card Joelinton Cássio Apolinário de Lira
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:45WIDE!!! A Villa clearance only comes out as far as Schar, who steps beyond Tielemans with ease before curling a left-footed strike just wide of the far post!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:44Gordon escapes from Cash once again down the left and swings a cross into the middle, but Digne's present to head clear before Murphy can get there. The ball is fired straight back up into the area by Schar towards Isak, but he's penalised for a push on Torres before he can get a shot away.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:41Aston Villa have lost on Boxing Day in each of the last three seasons, conceding three goals in each defeat. Only once have they lost on the day in four consecutive league campaigns, doing so between 1932-33 and 1935-36, but with Duran sent off, they face an uphil battle to prevent history repeating itself here.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:39CHANCE!!! Tonali's first-time ball into the box is met by a rising Joelinton at the far post, but he's off-balance as he heads goalwards and Martinez is easily able to collect!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:38Murphy fizzes a cross into the area with numbers arriving, but Martinez springs off his line to claim and catch the ball for 10-man Villa.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:38Although Duran's excuses will be that he was simply trying to slow himself down, the studs landing directly on Schar with force left the referee with no choice but to send him off there.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:34SAVED!!! Trippier and Schar stand over the Newcastle free-kick, with the latter stepping up to strike a low effort beyond Villa's wall, before Martinez gets down to parry it away!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:32Red Card Jhon Jader Durán Palacio
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:32A Newcastle free-kick from some 45 yards out comes to nothing thanks to pushing and shoving on tge edge of the box between Schar and Cash. The booked Villa man is penalised, meaning the hosts are given another set-piece opportunity – this time from well within shooting range.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:30Joelinton links up with Gordon down the left again and the winger crosses to the far post, where Torres can't quite deal with the threat and Digne arrives to head behind for a corner.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:29SAVED!! Isak does brilliantly to escape from McGinn down the left before finding Gordon in support, and his cross is met by a glancing Joelinton header which is saved and held by Martinez!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:25SAVED!!! Duran is clipped right on the edge of Newcastle's box to win a free-kick for the visitors, and after much delibration, Digne steps up to strike a curling effort goalwards, only to be denied by a diving Dubravka!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:23Yellow Card Kieran John Trippier
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:23Tielemans' lofted switch to the right picks out McGinn, and his teasing cross back into the middle is fumbled by Dubravka. Before any Villa plays can pounce though, the chance is halted by the correct raising of the offside flag.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:22Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League home games against Aston Villa, winning nine of these since a 3-0 loss in April 2005. They’ve won the last three in a row by an aggregate score of 10-1, and are on course to make that four straight already.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:19Tonali's loose pass gifts possession to Villa and Onana's throughball releases Duran on the left. He drills a low ball across the face with numbers arriving, but no-one can get on the end of his cross to turn it home!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:17Trippier is picked out on the run with a cross-field pass from Guimaraes, but his drilled ball in from the byline is scythed away from danger by a sliding Torres before it can trouble Martinez.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:15WIDE!!! Gordon looks to play a one-two with Isak and the ball ricochets back to him on the edge of the box, with the Newcastle goalscorer rolling a first-time strike well wide of the target!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:14Yellow Card Matthew Stuart Cash
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:13BLOCKED!! A Villa free-kick from the edge of the box is played down the line to Cash, who cuts back from the byline. Kamara races onto the loose ball unmarked and lashes it goalwards first-time, but Tonali gets in the way of it!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:13Anthony Gordon's goal after 90 seconds is the quickest in a Premier League game on Boxing Day since 2014, when both Harry Kane (57 secs) and Adam Johnson (30 secs) scored within the opening minute.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:10Villa turn possession over in Newcastle's half and Cash is sent in behind before crossing from the right, but Burn gets across at the near post to put the ball behind for a corner.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:07Gordon and Hall play the Newcastle corner short before the former whips a cross into the area, and Villa can't clear their lines as Guimaraes sends a looping far-post header back across the face of goal and wide.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:07Murphy tries an ambitious low strike from distance which he drags wide of the far post, but the ball took a nick off Torres on its way through and so it's a corner for the Magpies.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:06This is the first time ever Newcastle have scored inside the opening two minutes in back-to-back Premier League matches, after Isak's first-minute strike last time out!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:03Assist Joelinton Cássio Apolinário de Lira
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:02Iska kicks the game off for Newcastle, and this Boxing Day clash is up and running in the North East!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
15:01Despite these two both being in good form coming into this one, it’s the hosts Newcastle who are being heavily favoured in our live win probability tracker, with the Magpies sitting on a 48.0% chance of victory compared to Villa’s 28.1%. The visitors will be looking to change those odds though, as both teams head out onto the pitch at St. James’ Park!
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:47Jhon Duran continued to stake his claim up front for Villa with the opening goal against City last time out, and once again starts up front in place of Ollie Watkins, supported out wide by skipper John McGinn and winning goalscorer Morgan Rogers.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:47Eddie Howe makes two changes from the Magpies side which thumped Ipswich 4-0 last time out, with Joelinton returning from suspension and Kieran Trippier alsp coming back into the side. Joe Willock and Tino Livramento drop out, with Alexander Isak spearheading the side following his hat-trick at Portman Road.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:42ASTON VILLA SUBS: Robin Olsen, Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendia, Ollie Watkins, Jaden Philogene, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Leon Bailey.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:42ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lewis Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana; John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers; Jhon Duran.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:42NEWCASTLE UNITED SUBS: Odysseas Vlachodimos, Harvey Barnes, Matt Targett, William Osula, Miguel Almiron, Lloyd Kelly, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:42NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-3-3): Martin Dubravka; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall; Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:38Villa, meanwhile, have a chance to move into the top four if they win and other results go their way, having defeated defending champions Manchester City 2-1 last time out. A loss to Nottingham Forest by the same scoreline in their last away game is their only defeat in the last four, following five matches without a win previously.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:37Just two points separate these two sides in the table ahead of this festive fixture, with Newcastle sat one place behind Villa in eighth after 17 matches. The Magpies will be confident of leapfrogging the visitors and potentially moving up to fifth, having won both their last two games 4-0 against Leicester and Ipswich respectively.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
14:31Hello, and welcome to live coverage of this Boxing Day Premier League fixture, as Newcastle United host Aston Villa at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle United vs Aston Villa
13:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
