Newcastle United

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle manage Eddie Howe, speaking to Amazon Prime: "It's a brilliant goal from Anthony [Gordon]. He's capable of that and great to see that go in as he has been working hard on his finishing and wants more goals.

"Yes, it was 11 v 10 but the game was never done at 1-0 and we showed good characteristics, we were adapting with the ball and managed the situation very well. I'm delighted with the win. We were never comfortable until the second goal and I have to complement the players and how well they are playing, it is a good set of results and performances.

"We looked like we could score at any moment, the attacking players have their confidence back which is great to see and we look in a great place.

"If we can strengthen [in January] that would be our preference, if we can't we have to get the best out of the squad."

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle have won three matches in a row in the Premier League by three or more goals for the very first time.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

There are eight matches in the Premier League on Thursday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Manchester City v Everton (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Crystal Palace

• Chelsea v Fulham

• Newcastle v Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest v Tottenham

• Southampton v West Ham

• Wolves v Manchester United (17:30)

• Liverpool v Leicester (20:00)

Kick-off time 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has spoken about the comparisons between Sandro Tonali and legendary Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

Since breaking into the Brescia first team in 2017, Tonali has been compared with Pirlo, who started his career at the same club 20 years earlier.

"When I first saw Sandro play, there were definite links to Pirlo, without a doubt - and it's not just the hair. There's more to it than that," Howe said.

"He's definitely got those similar qualities in of build and style, but I think the thing that sets Sandro apart from anyone else was he could do all of those things technically and tactically, and looked really good, but it's his athleticism as well, his ability to run.

"We've seen that in recent games from a defensive viewpoint now more than an attacking viewpoint, where he's sprinting to put out fires for us, nicking balls, intercepting balls, using his athleticism to track runners. He's been excellent in that respect and think that's really helped the team.

"Yes, there are the obvious ones [comparisons] in of his technique and his ing and everything else, but I think that's the thing that sets him apart."

Listen to Howe talking to BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck on BBC Sounds

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

This week, he takes on Eats Everything, aka DJ and producer Daniel Pearce.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Newcastle seem to be hitting a bit of form - as I predicted, although I don't like to mention it - and Alexander Isak looks unstoppable at the moment. It just shows that people should never write off Magpies manager Eddie Howe.

Aston Villa were comfortable in their win against Manchester City on Saturday, and I love what Morgan Rogers is doing for them this season.

Villa manager Unai Emery has a nice headache up front, to choose between Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, and it means they have always got goals in them.

It is Newcastle I am going with here, though. They seem to be building real momentum although I guess there is the risk I am reading too much into them being so comfortable against little Ipswich Town at the weekend.

They were ruthless at Portman Road, and I think they will be ruthless at home against Villa too.

Eats Everything's prediction: 0-2

This is a tough one because both sides have been very up and down this season, and they both had good wins at the weekend.

I am not going to say Newcastle have been 'Spursy' but they seem to be either really good, or terrible - so I am going to go with Villa here. I don't really know why, it is just a feeling I have got.

Read the full predictions and have your say

Image source, Getty Images

For me, wherever I played, I'd always see where the first game was, where the last game was, and where we were at Christmas.

There is such a big difference between being at home on Boxing Day versus being away because, depending on what your manager is like, if you've got an away game there is a chance you're training on Christmas Day.

Some of the toughest times I had was when we had away games on Boxing Day and we had to come in to train at four or five on Christmas. That's when everything is just starting at home and everyone is really enjoying themselves and you have to leave.

If you lose you are sat in the hotel having walked away from friends and family all for no points. It's not the best feeling and as a consequence you bring home some of that disappointment with you.

But, in reality, you just know it is the busiest time of the year. The floodlights are always on for the games, the conditions get that little bit tougher, you've got games it feels like every three or four days.

I think it's an exciting part of the season because you can gain real, significant momentum but ultimately it comes down to are you winning games.

I think the Christmas period itself can be tough if you have got family but in reality it always feels nicer when you get that win on Boxing Day. The atmosphere in the stadiums is a little bit different, the atmosphere among the players is a bit different.

You're very thankful to get the chance to do what you do, but if you end up losing on Boxing Day or around that spell it is rubbish because it almost feels like it was a waste of time with all the efforts you put in.

But, I get it. The fans love it, there is a lot of clamour around it. You lose track of days just like everyone else does after Christmas and before New Year but it is great to play in front of those types of crowds and it just does feel different playing during that week or two.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I'd like to take a minute to indulge myself if you'll allow it. It is Christmas, after all.

I have been ruminating on my Newcastle United moment of the year so far and I'm struggling to get past a moment from the last week. So I'm going to talk about it.

I'll set the scene: the season has been weird. The table is tight, and our performances haven't been consistent enough or win-focused enough for us to be where we want to be. Last season we had a plethora of injuries, and this season we don't but somehow it still isn't working. Our marquee g of 2023, Sandro Tonali, came back from his 10 month ban in August 2024 and we seemed unable to work out how he fits into the squad. We are all frustrated, and desperate for the team and management to make it all better.

Then last week Brentford came to Newcastle to play us in the Carabao Cup Quarter Final. We win - but that's not my favourite moment.

My favourite moment was being directly in front of the goal as Sandro Tonali scored his second just before half time. We've been talking all season about it not clicking - well, for me, something clicked at that moment. I could feel it in my bones. The goal came from a corner - unusual for Newcastle United in the first place - and was so beautiful that I have re-watched it about six hundred times since the game. Tonali jumps, and manages to get enough power behind the ball from mid-air to whip it past several Brentford players and into the net. It seems like it defies physics.

The moment was compounded by the fact it was Tonali who did it; a man who has talked about wanting to show Newcastle fans his gratitude for the we showed him last year. For me, it was just magnificent. I'm so excited to see what the next year will bring with such a creative, talented footballer in our team.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Newcastle United could reluctantly consider offers for Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali, 24, next summer to meet profit and sustainability rules, with Juventus interested. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Tom Gayle
MOTD commentator at Portman Road

Image source, Getty Images

I quickly got a sense of the modest type of man Jacob Murphy is before I had even asked him a question.

Minutes after the final whistle, where Newcastle had delivered their biggest away win of the season and with the 29-year-old scoring and providing a spectacular assist, he had already had time to check how his twin brother Josh had got on as part of the Portsmouth side who had beaten Coventry 4-1.

This humility was further reinforced when he resisted the urge to take a dig at Ipswich after I brought up his Norwich City connection (he graduated from their academy into the first team).

Despite being fully aware of the intensity of their rivalry having played in two East Anglian derbies, the softly spoken Murphy described his afternoon as a "great day personally and collectively", adding: "It's nice to come to the local area and put in a performance like we did."

His mild mannered and incredibly polite nature makes those scenes during Newcastle's win the previous weekend against Leicester even more surprising. After scoring the game's opening goal, Murphy's celebration appeared to be fuelled by anger. He scowled, pointed towards his ear, and repeatedly yelled "what" at some of his own ers who had been critical of his earlier play.

It is fair to say Eddie Howe's side have been inconsistent this season. However, I do not think Alan Shearer had Murphy's name anywhere near the forefront of his mind earlier this month when he blasted the teams performance, and questioned the attitude of several players during their 4-2 defeat at Brentford, given the winger came on as a second-half substitute to set up both of his side's goals.

In the space of a fortnight, Murphy has scored three goals and provided two assists in three Premier League appearances. He might not be as 'sexy' in a footballing sense as some of the more superstar names amongst the Newcastle squad, but when it comes to goal involvements this season, only Alexander Isak has provided more.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe confirmed they will check on Joelinton on Monday after the midfielder picked up "various facial injuries after the last home game against Brentford" to decide his availability.

• He also confirmed Joe Willock "is fine" and it is "really important" for him to have a run of games to reach his best level, while Nick Pope has had "a couple of injections in his knee" but it is "still difficult to give a definitive date" for his return.

• On training over Christmas: "We will get them in training but won't keep them for any longer than they need to be in and then they can enjoy Christmas like everybody else."

• Howe said "winning changes everything" and he "will enjoy the Christmas period if we are successful" but he does not believe that feeling is "different to any other time of year".

• On how confidence can impact players' performances: "It changes the players' feel and emotions. The challenge for us is to get every player in the best frame of mind possible. We have seen from the whole squad an improvement from the start of the season."

• He added: "We are in a much better place. But it is important we don't get distracted and focus on the games. We have some brilliant fixtures to enjoy, but we will only enjoy them if we are at our best."

• Having not lost at home to Aston Villa since 2005, Howe said: "Previous games don't tell you anything about what is going to happen in the future. We really enjoyed playing at home in the past few games. Our home performances in general have been very good, so more of the same would be very welcome."

• On the challenge of facing Unai Emery's side: "This will be a really good challenge for us. I think they have good depth in their squad - they have some really good players. Their style is very difficult to play against. They're very well coached, very well drilled."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Ipswich Town and Newcastle United.

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans

Peter: Men against boys. It was Premier League vs Championship. They bullied us, snapped at our heels all day and shrugged us off the ball with ease. They won every second ball, if not the first. I only one shot on target and that was half way through the second half. We seriously lack pace at the back, as they just continually put the ball over the top. This performance was bad, but we still believe.

James: When will Kieran McKenna realise that Muric is not Premier League standard? He looks a mistake waiting to happen and he doesn't seem to be able to play out from the back, which is a style McKenna seemingly wants to persist with.

Mel: We do not have the squad to keep playing out from the back - starting with Muric! How many goals have we given away this season? This game showed just how vulnerable we are, particularly against a side like Newcastle. I still think we should recall Christian Walton who, in my view, is a far better goalkeeper than Muric.

Jasmine: We really need more depth all over the pitch, but up front especially. Al-Hamadi is a League One player at best and we struggle when Delap is unavailable.

Newcastle fans

Mark: It finally seem to be clicking both in midfield and on the flanks. Murphy always seems to have a purple patch in him - and long may this one last! Tonali and Bruno look excellent in midfield. We are suddenly five points off the top four with two huge games next! Best of luck for the rest of the season, Ipswich - hope you stay up!

Barry: Very impressive, with the midfield linking well. Isak took his chances but the others could have been more clinical. The rain and a slippery surface helped neither team.

Neil: The perfect start. We pressed well and did not let Ipswich settle. A confident display, comfortable win and clean sheet.

Andrew: Absolutely delighted with performance. For me, Murphy was outstanding, along with Isak and Gordon. I'm looking forward to the Aston Villa and Manchester United games, with confidence that we can end the year with another two wins.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe revealed he had slightly tweaked his midfield for their 4-0 win over Ipswich Town in his post-match interview with BBC Sport.

Former Magpies striker Alan Shearer analysed the changes, which "helped the whole team" on Match of the Day: "In recent games, Eddie Howe has put Sandro Tonali in the number six role and moved Bruno Guimaraes a little bit further forward to give him a little bit more freedom to get into forward positions.

"It certainly helped both of the players and, more importantly, it helped the team.

"Tonali will sit there in midfield - he is very good at that and I think he feels very important in that role. He is certainly a better player for it because he has the skills to do that.

"A lot of the time, when he gets the ball, within one or two touches he likes and wants to play the ball forward. So for the forward players, that is much better.

"He has to do his work defensively as well and he has certainly done that in recent games.

"The understanding of both Tonali and Guimaraes in their roles was absolutely superb. Sometimes it was Guimaraes getting on the ball and him ing it forward, other times it was Tonali.

"Bruno was very clever in what he had to do in that role. He feels part of it as well because that role is certainly suiting him."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Newcastle are one of the clubs interested in Barcelona's Spain defender Eric Garcia, 23, but the former Manchester City man wants to stay and fight for a first-team place. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Paris St-Germain are willing to pay 100m euros (£83m) to sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. (Fichajes.net - in Spanish), external

Meanwhile, the Magies will let forward Callum Wilson leave on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, including Manchester City's visit to Aston Villa and the London derby between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham 1-1 Brighton

• Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United goalscorer Jacob Murphy has been discussing the Magpies' confident win over Ipswich Town on BBC Radio Newcastle: "It was very good. It was enjoyable to be back in Norfolk and get a big win. We sent the fans home happy and it was a good day.

"It was good to see my goal go in, but such a quick start just set everything in motion for us. We are happy that it was a positive performance, especially being away from home.

"That is three wins in one week now, so it's about building momentum from that and that is a good start for us."

On scoring his goal: "I felt relatively close to the goal, so it was about making good with the ball. I know I've got the power, so if I keep it in between the sticks then I have a good chance of it going in."

On making a number of goal contributions in recent games: "I don't need to score and assist to be enjoying my football. For me, it's about making positive contributions. Whether you're occupying the space or tracking a run, you just have to give everything on the field.

"For me, goals and assists are bonuses. So it's good to provide, but you don't necessarily need the numbers to know that you have had a good game.

"It's not about who scores, it's about the fact that we score - that is a big ethos of mine. I feel like that is filtering through the team, we are becoming a lot less selfish and we are creating chances for everybody."

Listen to the full post-match interview on BBC Sounds