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Newcastle await nightmare schedule after Fulham match

By Durim Halimi

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Rafael Benitez, Manager of Newcastle United gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on November 18, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Rafael Benitez, Manager of Newcastle United gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on November 18, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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Remember the rough start to the season for Newcastle United? Well, those dark times are just around the corner once again.

Newcastle United were blessed to have back-to-back lenient opponents as it provides Rafa Benitez’s men with the opportunity to claim six quick points to climb away from the relegation zone. The bad news, however, is that points will be extremely difficult to come by after this weekend.

Between December 26th and February 2nd, Newcastle will face six top ten teams, three of which are in the top three, two in the top six and one currently tenth in the standings. As we saw against Watford and Bournemouth, Newcastle should not be ruled out completely, but they will be underdogs for the next two months.

Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

Newcastle are currently associated with the narrative of turning their season around, but that could change in a flash once they start facing elite teams on a regular basis in the near future. Just how brutal will the schedule be? Let us take a quick look:

  • December 26th – Liverpool vs. Newcastle
  • December 29th – Watford vs. Newcastle
  • January 2nd – Newcastle vs. Manchester United
  • January 12th – Chelsea vs. Newcastle
  • January 29th – Newcastle vs. Manchester City
  • February 2nd – Tottenham vs. Newcastle

From these fixtures, the only matches in which Newcastle have a chance of claiming an upset victory are against Watford and Manchester United. The other four matches are realistically an insurmountable challenge for the Magpies. The objective in those matches should be to steal a point where they can in order to maintain their current separation from the bottom three.

Importance of Fulham Match

Seeing how difficult the next two months will be shows just how significant the match against Fulham truly is. Three points against Fulham would give the Magpies 19 points before entering the new year, but a victory could also generate some momentum for Newcastle. With two consecutive victories, Newcastle can enter the match against Liverpool with some confidence.

Next. Newcastle must attack Fulham. dark

Liverpool aside for now, Newcastle must do everything they can to defeat Fulham on Saturday. Three points will be difficult to obtain after this match and it is a rare opportunity for Newcastle to improve their goal differential.