West Ham welcomes Newcastle in a match that could be decisive for the hosts. With only four points from nine games, West Ham are deep in the relegation battle in 19th place, while Newcastle are traveling with their heads held high after three wins from four competitive games and an impressive 2-0 win over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.
The statistics speak for themselves: Newcastle have won three of the last five head-to-head matches, and in four of those encounters, at least four goals were scored, with both teams scoring regularly. Particularly alarming for West Ham is the recurring pattern in the second half, in which they have conceded goals and lost control in each of the last three meetings.
With the worst goal difference in the league and already 20 goals conceded, West Ham’s defensive vulnerability is evident, while key offensive players such as Füllkrug are out with injuries, as are Scarles and Mavropanos. Newcastle, on the other hand, can rely on Woltemade, who has proven his effectiveness with six goals this season.
- Venue: London Stadium, London
- Date and time: November 2, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 10)
Newcastle are clear favorites with odds of around 1.60, which seems justified given their form, away strength, and scoring rate. The Magpies have won four of their last five games and score regularly, averaging two goals per game. Woltemade leads the offense with six goals this season.
West Ham, on the other hand, have lost all four home games, have the worst goal difference of minus 13 and have conceded at least two goals in all league games so far.
For conservative bettors, a Newcastle win is a good option, while a more moderate risk is over 2.5 goals, especially since West Ham has conceded at least two goals in all nine games this season and Newcastle has scored in five consecutive games. Risk-takers could consider the Asian handicap Newcastle -1.5, as Newcastle has won three of its last four games by at least two goals and West Ham has only been in the lead for a total of 25 minutes this season.
Other factors reinforce Newcastle’s status as favorites: Mavropanos is out for up to six weeks, coach Nuno Espírito Santo is still winless at home, and Paquetá’s desire to leave and fan protests are adding to the unrest at West Ham. Newcastle benefits from Tonali in midfield and shows defensive stability with many clean sheets. As with all sports betting, there is a risk of loss, so bankroll management and current odds movements should be considered before placing a bet.
West Ham Form & Record Check
After nine league games, West Ham is in 19th place with only four points and the worst goal difference, one point behind Nottingham Forest. Home games at London Stadium have been disastrous, with four defeats, most recently a 2-0 loss to Brentford, in which fans left the stadium early and protested loudly against the club’s management.
The defense looks particularly vulnerable. In all five of their previous league games, West Ham were behind at halftime and conceded at least one goal in each game. Many goals are conceded early on, such as both goals in the 1-2 defeat at Leeds within the first 15 minutes, and repeatedly from set pieces and headers. Things are no better in attack, with only seven goals in nine games. New signings are not making an impact, with prominent strikers such as Füllkrug and Wilson contributing hardly any goals between them.
Nuno Espírito Santo seems at a loss after four games without a win. His tactical experiments, such as playing Ollie Scarles on the wrong side or at times without a real center forward, have not been successful. The coach himself admitted that the lack of a real striker was a mistake.
The injury list is growing alarmingly: Füllkrug is still out with a muscle injury, Scarles suffered a broken collarbone and will not return until December at the earliest, and Mavropanos will be out for four to six weeks with a thigh injury. This significantly limits Nuno’s options in defense and attack. Without a rapid improvement in defensive organization from set pieces and a return to a clear striker profile, the situation threatens to worsen further.
West Ham are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 system. Areola will be in goal, protected by a back three of Todibo, Kilman, and Igor Julio. Wan-Bissaka will play on the right wing and Walker-Peters on the left. Souček and Ward-Prowse will occupy the central midfield, while Bowen and Paquetá will provide creativity behind the striker. New signing Wilson could get a chance to play as the lone striker.
Personnel concerns are forcing coach Nuno to make compromises. Füllkrug is still out with a muscle injury, Mavropanos is sidelined for up to six weeks with a torn muscle, and Scarles is struggling with a shoulder injury. The thin personnel coverage is forcing the coach to experiment, as was already evident in Leeds. The final formation will only be confirmed shortly before kickoff.
Newcastle form & record check
Newcastle travels to London Stadium in impressive form. They have won four of their last five competitive games, scoring at least two goals in each game and usually scoring themselves. Their improved performance after the break is particularly striking, with many goals coming in the second half.
Newcastle are currently 12th in the league with 12 points. Their results have been mixed, but they have only lost one of their last five games, a 2-1 defeat at Brighton, and have otherwise recorded several wins in the league and cup. They are only one point behind their immediate neighbors in the table, Brighton and Brentford, so a win could quickly change the league table.
The signing of Thiaw has paid off. He forms a stable central defensive partnership with Botman, and since Thiaw’s debut, Newcastle have conceded only six goals in nine competitive games. This defensive stability is a clear plus point for Eddie Howe’s team.
Injuries have ruled out full-backs such as Hall and Livramento, which limits the wing rotation. Wissa is currently unavailable in attack, but Woltemade, with his six goals this season, and Osula have proven their scoring prowess. With different qualities such as heading ability, pace, and athleticism, the offense remains well-staffed.
Eddie Howe often makes successful adjustments at half-time, which explains the accumulation of goals in the second half. At the same time, consistency over the full 90 minutes remains an area for improvement, with first halves often low on goals or evenly balanced. Given their current form and defensive stability thanks to Thiaw and Botman, Newcastle are in a position to achieve a positive result against direct rivals West Ham, especially if the team picks up the pace again after the break.
Eddie Howe is expected to field Newcastle in their usual 4-3-3 formation, but will have to compensate for several absences. Wissa is out with a knee injury, as are Livramento and Hall, who are also injured. Up front, 22-year-old Woltemade could get a chance to start. Howe has praised him several times recently, and he has scored six goals so far this season.
Thiaw and Botman have established themselves as the regular center-back pairing. The two are solid defenders and have conceded only six goals in the last nine games. This lineup is based on current form and availability and is subject to change before kickoff.
West Ham – Newcastle Head-to-Head & Statistics
In the last five head-to-head matches, Newcastle have won three, West Ham one in November 2024 (2-0), and one draw ended 2-2 in October 2023. The Hammers’ only point at London Stadium during this period is the aforementioned draw.
The encounters have mostly been high-scoring. Four of the last five games have seen at least four goals scored, with three of them seeing more than three. Both teams have scored in four of the five games, with the highest-scoring game being Newcastle’s 4-3 win in March 2024.
Newcastle show a striking pattern of strong second halves. In the last three encounters, Newcastle have won the second half in each game, often scoring the decisive goals. West Ham has repeatedly conceded late goals, which points to their aforementioned problems after the break.
The pattern suggests another offensive game with chances on both sides and a high probability of goals. The decisive factor could be whether West Ham stabilizes its defense in the second half. If they fail to do so, Newcastle will continue to have a good chance of deciding the game late on.
