Alexander Isak scored two more goals and helped set up a third as Newcastle United came back to beat Southampton 3-1 at St/ Mary’s on Saturday.
Jan Bednarek scored early as Newcastle opened like a team that lost their last match and had trouble traveling down to the south coast of England,
WATCH – Southampton v Newcastle
But Isak won a penalty and converted it, then beat the Saints back line to Jacob Murphy’s through ball to make it 2-1 before the break.
Isak then combined with Anthony Gordon to help Sandro Tonali turn his interception into a goal just after halftime.
Newcastle go back into fourth with 41 points, while Southampton remain 20th with six points. Saints remain 10 points clear of the bottom three.
Alexander Isak in rarefied air
The Swedish striker is a man in confident form, and he looks capable of scoring twice a half. The Festive Fixtures saw Isak pick up steam after scoring just four times heading into December. Now the 25-year-old has goals in nine of his last 10 Premier League games and is level with Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot chase, two behind Mohamed Salah’s 19. Dropping Joelinton into a massive midfield with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes gives Isak two true wingers in Jacob Murphy (seven assists) and Anthony Gordon (five). Isak has five assists himself and he’s bagged goals against the biggest names and best defenses in the game. Newcastle simply need to make it back to Europe, or else Isak will be scoring for fun on a Barcelona or Arsenal next season.
Southampton vs Newcastle player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Southampton vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Southampton vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Newcastle host Fulham at 10am ET Saturday, then have a League Cup semifinal second leg vs Arsenal.
Southampton go to Ipswich Town for a must-win match also at 10am Saturday.
How to watch Southampton vs Newcastle live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium — Southampton
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Southampton vs Newcastle final score: 1-3
Jan Bednarek 10', Alexander Isak pen 26', 30', Sandro Tonali 52'
Southampton vs Newcastle live updates
Late subs
Adam Lallana joins ex-Newcastle man Ryan Fraser on the pitch for Saints, while Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron and Sean Longstaff enter for the final few minutes.
Mateus Fernandes goal but VAR...
It’s a brilliant run and finish from Mateus Fernandes, Saints’ star of this game, but is he onside?
Oh his run is just offside. Let-off for Newcastle
Subs
Newcastle have ceded possession to Saints for much of the second half, and they’ve had to scramble a couple of times to stop Saints from good chances to pull within a goal.
Saints have brought on Cameron Archer, Yukinari Sugawara, and William Smallbone for Adam Armstrong, Manning, and Ugochukwu since the half-hour mark, while Newcastle plugged in Lewis Miley and Joe Willock for Guimaraes and Isak.
Sandro Tonali goal! Southampton 1-3 Newcastle (52nd minute)
Sandro Tonali busts into the midfield and breaks up Saints possession, and Isak makes an audacious shoulder/chest pass that Gordon snaps behind the Southampton back line.
Tonali’s timed his run perfectly and beats McCarthy.
Halftime — Southampton 1-2 Newcastle
Probably a fair score line.
Saints have had their fair share of the ball, winning possession 52:48, but Newcastle have seven shot attempts to Saints’ four.
The penalty was nailed-on despite the time it took to review it, and the Magpies have put five shots on McCarthy’s goal.
It’s in the balance at St. Mary’s, though, and the hosts have looked decent in attack. It’s their own-third play that is letting them down.
Alexander Isak goal — Southampton 1-2 Newcastle (30th minute)
It’s a brace for the big Swede, who is now one goal behind Mohamed Salah in the Golden Boot race.
Jacob Murphy sends Isak behind the line, and he’s behind Bednarek to keep his cool while rolling it inside the opposite post of his penalty.
Saints do not get big let off — Southampton 1-1 Newcastle (26th minute)
It’s a long review for little reason, as it’s pretty clear that Isak was doubly-impeded by Aribo.
He rolls his penalty opposite of Alex McCarthy’s dive.
1-1.
Saints get big let off?
Is this Southampton’s day?
Bruno Guimaraes plays Alexander Isak onto the doorstep and the Swede’s shot attempt is stopped before he hits the ball by Joe Aribo.
No pen, just a corner, but VAR is having a look...
Jan Bednarek goal! Southampton 1-0 Newcastle (10th minute)
Back-to-back goal!
James Bree gets time on the right and sweeps in a cross to the heart of the 18.
Fellow defender Jan Bednarek is up near center forward territory to slam his header past Martin Dubravka.
Saints alive!
Southampton lineup
McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bree, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Manning, Ugochukwu, Aribo, Fernandes, Armstrong, Onuachu
Newcastle lineup
Dubravka, Hall, Burn, Schar, Livramento, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Gordon, Murphy, Isak
Southampton vs Newcastle preview
The 20th-place Saints nearly came back to surprise Forest at the City Ground last time out, but it’s been a season of nearly for them and their six points make them not just relegation fodder but a team drifting toward one of the worst PL seasons ever. That could change if Saints can handle Newcastle, who fell 4-1 to Bournemouth at St. James’ Park in Week 21.
That results stunned many, as Eddie Howe’s three-goal loss to his former club stalled a top-four march and a nine-match winning streak across all competitions. The depth of quality in this season’s Premier League leaves the sixth-place Magpies as close to fourth as eighth, and as close to third as 11th.
Southampton team news, focus
OUT: Ross Stewart (lower leg), Jack Stephens (undisclosed), Tyler Dibling (ankle)
Newcastle United team news, focus
OUT: Harvey Barnes (thigh), Nick Pope (knee), Callum Wilson (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee)
Southampton vs Newcastle prediction
There’s no reason the Magpies shouldn’t be able to deliver a victory other than the phenomenon that are dips in form for good teams. So if you believe in Howe as Newcastle motivator, then underline this as three points for Newcastle. If you have any real questions about the Magpies’ mettle, then Saints could well take another point here. Southampton 1-2 Newcastle United.
