Newcastle defeats Southampton 3-1, with Alexander Isak scoring twice. A strong comeback by Newcastle after an early goal from Southampton, continues their Champions League push. 
Newcastle United secured a 3-1 victory against Southampton at St Mary’s, showcasing a strong comeback after conceding an early goal. The match, held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, saw Alexander Isak lead the charge with two goals, continuing his impressive scoring form. Despite Southampton taking an early lead, Newcastle demonstrated resilience and tactical prowess to dominate the game.
The match began with Southampton’s Jan Bednarek scoring in the 10th minute, heading home unmarked, against the run of play after Newcastle had dominated the initial ten minutes. However, Newcastle quickly regrouped and responded strongly. Alexander Isak equalized with a penalty in the 26th minute, following a foul on him by Joe Aribo, and then added another goal in the 30th minute. Sandro Tonali secured the win with Newcastle’s third goal in the 51st minute. The remainder of the match saw Newcastle controlling play and cruising to victory. The final score was Southampton 1, Newcastle 3.
Southampton’s manager, Ivan Juric, expressed frustration with the match officials. He disputed the penalty awarded to Newcastle, claiming that it was not a penalty. However, replays clearly showed that Aribo fouled Isak from behind. Juric also referenced other moments, such as a disallowed late goal for Southampton, that VAR correctly determined was offside. Despite his complaints, the decisions by VAR were correct, highlighting the technology’s effectiveness in ensuring fair results. Juric did acknowledge that his team fought well despite the loss, but also conceded there are areas they can still improve.
Newcastle’s dominance was reflected in the match statistics. They maintained 47% possession compared to Southampton’s 53%. However, Newcastle recorded 17 total shots with 9 on target, and Southampton had 12 total shots with 5 on target. The numbers of touches in the box were 34 for Newcastle and 15 for Southampton, indicating Newcastle’s attacking pressure. Newcastle also had 8 corners to Southampton’s 3, further suggesting Newcastle’s superior attacking intent. The Newcastle lineup consisted of Dubravka, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Joelinton, Bruno (Miley), Murphy (Longstaff 90+3), Isak (Willock), and Gordon (Almiron 88).
Alexander Isak’s performance was a focal point, with his goals further solidifying his position as a key player. His scoring streak has been notable, finding the net in nine of the last ten Premier League games. Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe, praised Isak’s overall game and described the win as massive, especially after last week’s performance. Howe was also impressed with the team’s strong response to conceding the early goal, noting that they were creative and had a good feel about them in the first 60 minutes of the match. Howe believes that Southampton’s league position is misleading, as they are more competitive than their standing suggests. He was also questioned about a late VAR call that disallowed a Southampton goal for offside, however he was tight-lipped on his views.
The Newcastle victory is crucial for their Champions League push, while Southampton’s defeat leaves them at the bottom of the league, facing a difficult battle to avoid relegation. The win also means Newcastle maintains their recent strong form with 10 wins in their last 11 games. The team had a challenging start to their weekend with a delayed flight due to Storm Eowyn, however they secured the victory despite the adverse circumstances.
Newcastle’s upcoming matches include a home game against Fulham on Saturday, February 1, followed by a League Cup match against Arsenal on Wednesday, February 5. They also face Birmingham in the FA Cup on Saturday, February 8. Further matches include games against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, West Ham and Crystal Palace.
Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cg45xk0549do
https://www.themag.co.uk/2025/01/southampton-boss-blames-match-officials-for-defeat-to-newcastle-united-ivan-juric/
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24885636.newcastles-howe-makes-southampton-league-table-admission/