Newcastle United began the new Premier League season in superb fashion on Saturday evening as they thrashed Aston Villa at St James' Park.

Goals from Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes on debut, as well as Callum Wilson and a double from Alexander Isak, secured a 5-1 win for the Toon against Unai Emery's side. 

Both teams enjoyed incredible 2022/23 campaigns which saw them qualify for Europe, and the Villans are much-fancied for another strong season following some impressive summer signings. 

But they simply couldn't cope with the intensity of Eddie Howe's side on Saturday afternoon, with the hosts sitting top of the Premier League table following the first round of fixtures. 

Tonali was the only new man to start for Newcastle in the season opener after joining from AC Milan and it took the Italy international just six minutes to make his mark, as he timed his run to perfection to volley home Anthony Gordon's cross. 

The visitors were level through a debutant of their own just five minutes later, as Moussa Diaby smashed another volley past Nick Pope for 1-1. 

However, the hosts would go back in front through Isak on 16 minutes, as he was left with the freedom of St James' Park to sidefoot past Emiliano Martinez after a less-than-successful attempt at an offside trap from Emery's outfit. 

Both sides threatened to score more in a topsy-turvy first half but it would take until just before the hour mark for Newcastle to go further ahead. 

A mistake from Ezri Konsa let Isak in and the Sweden international, who has looked superb since swapping Sociedad for St James', nonchalantly chipped the ball over Martinez for his second. 

Villa pushed up to try and rescue the game and should have had one back when Matty Cash missed an open net, but Wilson made no such mistake when he was found in the box by Barnes on 77 minutes, with his shot finding the top corner to make it 4-1. 

Barnes, a summer signing from recently-relegated Leicester City, was clearly keen to make his mark having coming on as a substitute and got the goal his performance deserved in added time by curling past a helpless Martinez after running in on goal. 

Newcastle sit top for now and will be full of confidence ahead of Saturday's trip to face champions Manchester City.