Chris Sutton has gone against the grain again, and this time Newcastle United are the team being asked awkward questions. The pundit has tipped Hull City not to lose in Newcastle Vs Hull, a call that immediately gives this Premier League meeting a sharper edge than the usual pre-match chatter.
That is not a small swing in opinion. Sutton had been predicting Hull City to lose all their games so far this season, which makes this latest verdict stand out even more. His reasoning is simple enough: he can see Newcastle having a frustrating afternoon, and he clearly believes Hull City have enough about them to make life difficult after being promoted back into the Premier League.
A prediction that cuts against the noise
This is exactly the sort of call that gets attention because it refuses to follow the obvious script. Newcastle United will be expected to control the conversation at home, but Sutton is not buying the idea that this will be straightforward. By tipping Hull City not to lose, he is effectively saying the newly promoted side can bring enough energy, organisation and belief to unsettle a bigger name.
That matters because promoted teams are often judged before they have even kicked a ball in anger. The assumption is usually the same: survive early pressure, hope for scraps, and try not to get overwhelmed. Sutton’s view pushes back against that lazy thinking. His own phrase about attacking the Premier League suggests he sees a Hull side willing to take the game to opponents rather than simply hide from it.
Why Newcastle cannot treat this as routine
Of course, predictions are only predictions. Sutton is not claiming Hull City are suddenly favourites, and nobody serious would mistake this for a statement that Newcastle United should be worried by default. But he has made one thing clear: he expects Newcastle to be tested, and perhaps tested more than some would like to admit.
That is what makes Newcastle United vs Hull City interesting before a ball is even kicked. Newcastle’s home status might demand authority, but Hull’s promotion has already changed the mood around them. They are not being framed as passive extras in this fixture. They are being treated as a side capable of making the afternoon uncomfortable.
Sutton has spent the season backing Hull City to fail, so this is not a casual jump on the underdog bandwagon. It is a notable change of tone, and one that raises the stakes for Newcastle. If his call proves right, it will not just be a decent result for Hull City. It will be another reminder that Premier League games can turn messy very quickly when a promoted side arrives with bite.
