It could be a defensive battle on Saturday when Newcastle United host West Ham United in an English Premier League match at London's St. James' Park. However, both teams added new faces in the transfer window that they expect to boost their struggling attacks. Newcastle (10-9-1) have been rolling this season, as they sit third in the Premier League table and just clinched a spot in the EFL Cup final. They will face Manchester United for the League Cup title on Feb. 26. The Magpies are on a 16-match unbeaten run in league play. However, they have scored once in their past four - a 1-0 victory and three 0-0 draws. The Hammers (5-3-12), meanwhile, seem to have the attacking talent to compete but sit 16th in the EPL table, three points above last place. They finished in the top seven in the table the past two seasons.
Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET. The Magpies are -155 favorites (risk $155 to win $100) in the latest Newcastle vs. West Ham odds from Caesars Sportsbook. West Ham are +440 underdogs, a draw is listed at +275 and the over/under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Before locking in any West Ham vs. Newcastle picks, make sure you check out the English Premier League predictions and best bets from proven SportsLine soccer insider Martin Green.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been spot-on. Green has generated almost $33,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season.
Green is 24-22-1 on his soccer picks in 2023 and went 23-23-1 on his World Cup selections. He also crushed his tournament predictions on the Early Edge. He backed the USMNT to advance (+100), Kylian Mbappe to win the Golden Boot (+900) and Netherlands, England and Argentina all to win their groups (+210) among his correct picks.
Now, Green has broken down Newcastle vs. West Ham from every angle and just locked in his picks and Premier League predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for West Ham vs. Newcastle:
- Newcastle vs. West Ham spread: Newcastle -0.5 (-160)
- Newcastle vs. West Ham over/under: 2.5 goals
- Newcastle vs. West Ham money line: Newcastle -155, West Ham +440, Draw +275
- NEW: The Magpies have conceded two goals over their past 11 league matches
- WH: The Hammers are 9.26 goals below expected, the widest margin in the EPL
- Newcastle vs. West Ham picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back Newcastle United
The Magpies are unbeaten at St. James' Park, going 6-4-0 with an 18-5 goal advantage. The Hammers have taken just five points from 10 away matches (1-2-7) and have been outscored 13-6. West Ham could have major problems scoring Saturday, as the Magpies have allowed just 11 goals in their 20 matches, giving up 61 shots on target. Newcastle opponents are putting just 29.2% of their attempts on net, the best defensive mark in the league. West Ham find the mark 25.8% of the time, which ranks last. They also have the fifth-lowest possession rate (44.9%).
Newcastle have been tough to crack with Sven Botman and Fabian Schar securing the middle in front of Nick Pope. The goalkeeper leads the EPL in save percentage (83.9) and clean sheets (12). The Magpies also have plenty of attacking talent, and Anthony Gordon was just added to that mix. The 22-year-old shared the team lead with three goals for Everton. Now he joins the likes of Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron, who have combined for 15 goals. Declan Rice and Pablo Fornals provide opportunities, while Kieran Trippier bombards the box with crosses.
Why you should back West Ham
The Hammers also have been strong on the back line and have been struggling to score. They have the talent in attack to be dangerous, however, and West Ham are 3-1-1 in their past five in all competitions. They come off consecutive 2-0 victories, against Derby County in the FA Cup on Monday and Everton the previous Saturday. Jarrod Bowen scored three of those four goals and Michail Antonio had the other. Bowen has four league goals, Said Benrahma has three and Antonio has two. The Hammers have scored 17 goals, but their expected goals number is 26.
West Ham also added veteran scorer Danny Ings from Aston Villa, and the 30-year-old had six goals in 18 appearances (eight starts) for the Villans. He has 47 goals over the past three-plus seasons, so he should bolster an already-talented attack. The Hammers have conceded 25 goals in the 20 matches, and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is in the top 10 in saves (57) and save percentage (72.5). The last meeting at St. James Park was a 4-2 West Ham victory.
How to make West Ham vs. Newcastle picks
Green has scrutinized the Newcastle vs. West Ham match from every angle. He is taking Under on the goal total and provides another confident best bet that would pay almost 3-1. He's only sharing his picks and EPL analysis at SportsLine.
So, who wins West Ham vs. Newcastle on Saturday? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Newcastle vs. West Ham, all from the European soccer expert who has generated almost $33,000 for $100 bettors over the past four seasons, and find out.
