Jaissle Faces Major Challenges Ahead of Premier League Opener
A new era begins at St James’ Park on Sunday, but Matthias Jaissle will walk into it with a patched‑up Newcastle United squad and a brutally honest grasp of the scale of the job.
Liverpool’s visit is heavyweight enough. Jaissle must also navigate his Premier League debut without at least two key first‑team options, with a third hanging in the balance after a late pre-season scare.
Jaissle’s first big headache
The German coach has already admitted the summer churn has left him with problems to solve. Significant departures have reshaped the dressing room, and now injuries are biting before a ball is kicked in anger.
- Joelinton is out.
- Tino Livramento is out.
- Joe Willock might join them on the sidelines, or he might not even be at the club by the time Liverpool walk out on Tyneside.
According to The Shields Gazette reporter Jordan Cronin, Joelinton and Livramento are both expected to miss Sunday’s opener, while Willock is rated doubtful after limping off in Newcastle’s final pre-season friendly against Strasbourg.
Joelinton blow after brief return
Joelinton’s situation stings. The Brazilian fought back from the muscle injury that cut short his 2025-26 season, returning in friendlies against Valencia and Everton. Just when it looked like he had turned a corner, another issue struck.
Cronin reports that Newcastle’s trip to Leeds United on September 14 is the target for his comeback.
Jaissle did not sugarcoat it.
“Now with Joelinton, a player who's unfortunately injured, so he will be missing a couple of weeks as it looks right now,” he said. “This is something we need to solve as soon as possible. Well, he will miss for sure the first weeks, but all details will be followed.”
No ambiguity there. One of Newcastle’s most influential figures will not be there when the new regime kicks off.
Livramento still waiting
On the opposite flank, Livramento has not featured at all in pre-season. A calf injury forced him out of England’s World Cup squad and has kept him sidelined since.
The right back is edging closer to a return, but not quickly enough. Sunday comes too early, with Cronin listing Newcastle’s trip to Tottenham on August 29 as the more realistic date for his reappearance.
For a coach trying to build from the back and impose new ideas, losing a dynamic full back like Livramento only complicates the tactical jigsaw.
Willock: injury or exit?
Willock is the great unknown in this story.
The midfielder was forced off late in the Strasbourg friendly, and Cronin reports that the exact nature of the injury is still unclear. A groin issue has been suggested, but there is no firm timeline on when he might return.
Layered on top of that is the transfer noise. Willock has been linked with a move to Besiktas, and any deal would need to be resolved before matchday one. Jaissle could easily find himself planning for Liverpool without a player who, not long ago, looked central to Newcastle’s midfield future.
Liverpool’s own absentees
Newcastle are not alone in carrying scars into the opener.
Liverpool will definitely be without Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez for the trip to St James’ Park. Several others remain doubtful for the journey north, trimming Jurgen Klopp’s options for a testing first assignment on the road.
A test of depth and nerve
So Jaissle’s first Premier League line-up will already say a lot. About trust. About depth. About how quickly he intends to reshape this squad.
No Joelinton driving through the middle. No Livramento tearing up the right. Willock uncertain. Liverpool looming.
How Newcastle handle that reality on Sunday will set the tone for the Jaissle era far beyond just one opening whistle.
