Newcastle vs Aston Villa LIVE: Tonali and Diaby to make Premier ...

Newcastle and Aston Villa will kick-start their most highly anticipated seasons in recent history when they face off this weekend.

The two teams were among the biggest revelations in the Premier League last campaign, with the Magpies and Villa both qualifying for Europe.

Tonali was Newcastle's marquee arrivalCredit: Getty

Eddie Howe's Newcastle sealed their return for the Champions League at the expense of Liverpool and Chelsea.

Unai Emery, meanwhile, oversaw Villa's rise from a relegation battle up to seventh and have recruited heavily this summer.

These two sides met in pre-season during the inaugural Premier League Summer Series and played out an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Newcastle vs Aston Villa: How to follow 

This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, August 12. 

Kick-off at St James' Park is scheduled for 5:30pm. 

The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event with coverage starting at 5pm. 

talkSPORT will provide you will all the latest while talkSPORT.com will provide the best of the reaction as well.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Villa surprised many last season, capping off their season in winning fashionCredit: Getty Newcastle vs Aston Villa: Team news

The hosts could hand a debut to Tino Livramento with Sandro Tonali expected to make his first outing in the Premier League as well.

Newcastle don't have any major fitness concerns to contend with, but Joe Willock faces a late fitness test.

As for Villa, new signing Moussa Diaby will hope to carry his pre-season form into the new campaign.

Fellow new additions Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres will also likely start with the Midland outfit not struggling with any major injuries.

Newcastle are building up for their return to the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty Newcastle vs Aston Villa: What has been said?

Howe has dropped a hint over his team selection after discussing Harvey Barnes' adaptation to life at the Magpies.

Howe said: “It’s difficult to predict but I think his role in the team on that left hand side is slightly simpler than maybe other positions in the team.

“As always, when you sign someone you’re hoping that his attributes fit to what you want. You could see from Harvey [against Villareal] that he looked good in the team, he looked comfortable in his role and I thought he performed really well and I’m delighted with the two goals and with the two finishes.

“Physically he looks good as well as he had a period before he signed for us where he hadn’t had training but he’s looked sharper in the two weeks. I think he’s in a good place.

“Nothing is decided [about the team to face Villa]. I need to analyse and with all the knowledge I have from training to try and pick the right team.”

talkSPORT pundits believe they can cause a shock once againCredit: Getty Newcastle vs Aston Villa: Match stats Since his debut in the competition in 2015, only Raheem Sterling (15) and Sergio Agüero (14) have scored more Premier League goals in August than Newcastle striker Callum Wilson (11). He's scored on the opening weekend in each of the last three seasons, with only Mohamed Salah (6 between 2017-18 and 2022-23) and Teddy Sheringham (4 between 1992-93 and 1995-96) ever doing so in 4+ consecutive campaigns. Newcastle forward Callum Wilson has scored 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games, averaging a goal every 58 minutes in this run. Indeed, since the start of April, Wilson is the highest scorer in the competition overall (11). This is the eighth time Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is starting a league campaign with an away match, with the Spaniard winning six and drawing one of his previous seven. One of those victories came at Newcastle (1-0) while in charge of Arsenal in 2019-20. So far in 2023, only Manchester City have picked up more Premier League wins (17) and more Premier League points (53) than Aston Villa (13 wins, 43 points). Indeed, their haul of 43 points is already more than they picked up in the whole of 2022 (41). No team lost fewer Premier League games in 2022-23 than Newcastle (5). Only four teams managed to beat the Magpies, with Unai Emery's Aston Villa being one of those sides in April (3-0). Aston Villa have lost their opening league game in each of the last two seasons, losing against promoted sides on both occasions (Watford in 2021-22, Bournemouth in 2022-23). They've not lost their first league game in three consecutive campaigns since doing so between 1967-68 and 1969-70 in the second tier. Newcastle have won their opening league game in two of the last three seasons (L1), having done so in just one of their previous 12 campaigns (D4 L7). Following their 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest last season, The Magpies are looking to win their opening league game in consecutive campaigns for the first time since 2006-07/2007-08. Against no side have Newcastle United won more Premier League games than they have against Aston Villa (24, level with Tottenham), while they've also beaten the Villans more often in their overall league history than they have any other opponent (71). Aston Villa beat Newcastle 3-0 at Villa Park in April, but haven't won consecutive Premier League meetings with the Magpies since doing the double over them in 2004-05. Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League home games against Aston Villa (W8 D6) since a 3-0 loss in April 2005.