NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, U.K. - This was far from the start Newcastle would have hoped for. After four games, Newcastle have only picked up three points, losing to Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton. Their only win came in the first matchday against Aston Villa. Should Newcastle fans be worried? The answer is complicated.

First, let’s start with the positives. The season did just start and is only four games in. Another slight positive Newcastle fans can have is that Newcastle faced fairly tough competition in their first four games. They faced a strong Manchester City side, a resilient Liverpool team and a talented Brighton squad. Consequently, they got some of their harder fixtures out of the way early, which could be beneficial as the season goes on.

However, there are some signs of concern for Newcastle. One of the first warning signs is some of their performances as of late. Against Manchester City, Newcastle’s midfield often appeared overrun and if Manchester City had been more clinical, the score of the game could have been different. Against Liverpool, Newcastle started out strong, but then lost their way as the game went on. They were winning 1-0 for much of the game before going on to lose 2-1 to a ten-man Liverpool side. Then, against Brighton, mistakes and missed chances led to them losing 3-1. 

If that wasn’t enough, they have a tough group in the UEFA Champions League. They cannot afford to be mediocre against the likes of Milan, PSG and Borussia Dortmund. They also have a massive matchup against Manchester City in the EFL Cup Third Round coming up. 

It is not yet time to panic for Newcastle fans, but their game against Brentford this Saturday could prove pivotal in their season.