Newcastle vs the ‘Big Six’ – How the takeover has impacted Premier League results | OneFootball

Newcastle United’s transformation since their Saudi-backed takeover in October 2021 has been impossible to ignore.

Once a club focused on survival, they now expect to challenge the Premier League’s elite.

However, their record against the so-called ‘Big Six’ highlights a team still on the rise rather than one that has fully arrived.

Before Eddie Howe’s appointment as manager, Newcastle’s meetings with the division’s top clubs rarely ended well.

Without a clear tactical identity or squad depth, they struggled to compete. When Howe took charge in November 2021, the gap was evident.

In the remainder of that season, Newcastle lost seven of nine Big Six encounters, with their only win coming in May 2022 – a 2-0 home victory over Arsenal that derailed the Gunners’ top-four hopes.

The 2022-23 campaign marked a turning point. With a full pre-season under Howe and smart recruitment, Newcastle became a far tougher proposition.

They frustrated Arsenal in a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium, secured a crucial 2-0 win over Manchester United at St James’ Park and pulled off a 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur.

By the end of the season, they had played 12 league games against the Big Six, winning five, drawing three and losing four.

That improvement played a major role in their top-four finish, securing a return to the Champions League for the first time in two decades.

However, certain opponents have remained difficult hurdles to overcome. Their record against Manchester City has been mixed.

In Howe’s first season, Newcastle suffered 4-0 and 5-0 defeats, but a thrilling 3-3 draw at St James’ Park in August 2022 suggested they were closing the gap.

More recently, they have held City to a 1-1 draw at home but also suffered narrow defeats, with a 4-0 thrashing at the Etihad Stadium in February 2025 reinforcing the gulf that still exists.

Manchester United have also proven to be a tough challenge. Newcastle’s first win in this fixture came in April 2023, with a 2-0 triumph at St James’ Park. They added a 1-0 home victory in December that year.

However, a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford in May 2024 and a 2-0 loss at home in December 2024 showed there is still work to do.

Liverpool have been an even greater stumbling block. Newcastle have not beaten the Reds in the league since the takeover.

They have suffered five straight defeats before finally ending the streak with a dramatic 3-3 draw at St James’ Park in December 2024.

Before that, they endured heartbreak at Anfield in August 2022 when Alexander Isak’s first-half goal gave them the lead, only for Liverpool to equalise in the 61st minute and snatch a 98th-minute winner.

Their next meeting at St James’ Park in February 2023 ended in a 2-0 defeat, and the following season they suffered another frustrating loss in August.

The 4-2 defeat at Anfield in January 2024 continued the trend before their long wait for a positive result ended with December’s home draw.

However, a 2-0 loss at Anfield in February 2025 was another reminder of how difficult this fixture remains.

Encouraging signs have emerged against Tottenham Hotspur, where the tide appears to be turning.

After two heavy defeats early in Howe’s tenure, Newcastle have now won four straight league meetings with Spurs.

The 6-1 thrashing in April 2023 was a statement result. The more recent wins — 4-0 in April 2024 and a pair of 2-1 victories this term suggest a shift in the balance of power.

This season has produced mixed results. A 1-0 victory over Arsenal in November was a statement win, but setbacks against Chelsea and Man United have prevented them from truly asserting themselves.

Despite this, the numbers underline Newcastle’s progress. In their final full season before the takeover, they failed to win a single game against the Big Six.

Since then, they have won at least three per season, with key victories over Tottenham home and away this term.

Newcastle have shown they can compete with the best, but to truly join the elite, they must make beating the Big Six a habit rather than an occasional triumph.