Newcastle United round off the 2021/2022 campaign with a trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley. Magpies fans will look at their hosts for the day with a sense of great relief that it is not them fighting for Premier League survival on the final day, after an outstanding second-half of the season pulled them into mid-table.
It’s been a season of two halves for Newcastle, who were languishing on the bottom three for much of the first-half, before a host of January signings and the influence of Eddie Howe brought 11 wins in 18 and a comfortable end to the season.
And now they face relegation-threatened Burnley on the final day, with the Clarets needing to equal Leeds United’s result at Brentford to survive. With so much on the cards at Turf Moor on Sunday, a host of Premier League pundits have made their predictions.
READ MORE: Matt Targett warns Burnley that Newcastle United are in no mood for favours on Survival Sunday
Mark Lawrenson: 1-1
BBC Sport’s Mark Lawrenson has made his final ever set of Premier League predictions after 22 years and more than 8,000 games - and he has backed a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor and Burnley survival.
He told BBC Sport’s readers: “The Clarets are determined - which helped them get a point against Aston Villa on Thursday - but they have gone back to how they were playing previously, which is with an element of fear.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have done a lot of hard work since the turn of the year and had some excellent results. I'd be surprised if they left Turf Moor empty-handed... so the final relegation place could be in the balance until the very last kick of the campaign.”
Michael Owen: 1-1
Former Magpie Michael Owen has echoed Lawrenson’s thoughts that a desperate Clarets will scrape a point against Newcastle - he also said he thought that a draw would be enough to keep them afloat.
“I thought Burnley deserved a point at Villa Park on Thursday. It might have been more, but it’s a point closer to safety.” Owen told BetVictor . “I thought Newcastle’s performance against Arsenal on Monday was a signal of intent for next season. The fans were typically brilliant and the players' energy levels on the pitch matched it.
“A point might just be enough for Burnley to stay up. With the fans behind them, I can see them getting it. I’m predicting a 1-1 draw.”
Paul Merson: 2-0 win
Ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Paul Merson has broken rank and gone for a comfortable Newcastle win, adding that he thinks Mike Jackson’s side will go down after Leeds take a points at Brentford.
“Newcastle got a fantastic result against an Arsenal side that came into the game to virtually seal their place in the top four,” Merson told SportsKeeda. “They'll be too much for Burnley, who I think will get relegated.
“Eddie Howe has done an unbelievable job since taking over the reins at St. James' Park and has brought the right players in… It looked bleak for them at the turn of the year, but they've turned it around in some style, fair play to them for that.”
A win for the Magpies could see them rise as high as 10th, should results go their way, which is a remarkable achievement considering they were 19th with 11 points at the halfway stage.
