Dedic Arrives, Trippier Is Gone: What Newcastle’s Right-Back Situation Means for Their Season Opener vs Liverpool

Newcastle have moved fast. Amar Dedic is signed, sealed and already facing the prospect of lining up against Liverpool at St James' Park on Sunday, just days after completing his £30m move from Benfica.

This is a transfer that tells you a lot about where Newcastle are heading under Matthias Jaissle, and it raises some genuinely interesting questions ahead of their season opener.

Filling a Gap That Needed Filling

Kieran Trippier leaving on a free to Wolves left a real hole. He was one of the best right-backs in the Premier League at his peak, and while he had slowed down, his experience and delivery were irreplaceable overnight.

Dedic is a completely different profile. At 24 and with serious athletic numbers from his time in Portugal, he is a runner first. His carry stats from last season place him among the most progressive full-backs in the Primeira Liga. He bombs forward, gets into the attacking third and offers width in a way that suits a high-energy, pressing system.

Jaissle knows exactly what he is getting. The two worked together at Red Bull Salzburg, and that relationship clearly accelerated this deal. Newcastle did not spend £30m on a name, they spent it on a player the manager trusts implicitly.

The Liverpool Test Comes Fast

Tino Livramento is still injured, so Newcastle have a decision to make on Sunday. Throw Dedic straight in, or patch something together with a makeshift option.

Our read is that Jaissle will play him. The manager has already said he knows Dedic's game inside out, and there is no benefit in easing someone into the squad when the alternative is fielding a player out of position against Liverpool.

Dedic has actually played at St James' Park before. He was in the Benfica side Newcastle beat 3-0 in the Champions League last season. That experience, even from the losing side, means he knows the atmosphere and the stadium. It will not be a shock to the system.

The bigger question is how quickly he adapts to Premier League intensity. He has never played in England before, and Liverpool's press and direct running will test any full-back, let alone one still learning his new team-mates' movements. For betting purposes, Newcastle's defensive record in this game is worth watching closely. If Dedic is starting, the value on a Liverpool goal arriving down that right side is real.

What This Move Says About Newcastle's Summer

Dedic is reportedly only the second Newcastle signing over the age of 20 this summer. That is a deliberate strategy, not a coincidence. Newcastle are building a squad with a long shelf life, prioritising players with high ceilings over short-term fixes.

It is an exciting approach but it does carry risk. Young, unproven Premier League players need time. Several of Newcastle's new arrivals could take months to hit their stride, and the opening stretch of fixtures will tell us a lot about how ready this squad actually is.

Ross Wilson's comment about Dedic being 'incredibly hungry' to prove himself is significant. Hunger is not always enough, but combined with Jaissle's familiarity and a clear tactical fit, there is every reason to believe Dedic can be a success at Newcastle.

Our Take on Newcastle's Season Prospects

Newcastle are a fascinating betting proposition this season. Their squad-building model is coherent and ambitious, but banking on young players stepping up in a brutal league is never a safe bet.

For the Liverpool opener specifically, we would not back Newcastle to keep a clean sheet with Dedic making his debut. Liverpool are too sharp in transition and will spot a new right-back finding his feet. Newcastle to score but concede feels like the smart play, and a Liverpool win at around evens is not a bad shout either.

Longer term, Newcastle finishing in the top five feels achievable if this squad clicks early. Their home form at St James' Park should be excellent regardless, and Dedic's energy will suit the pace Jaissle wants to play with.

The season starts Sunday, and Newcastle are already being tested.