Newcastle United bring 2020 action from the Premier League to a close as they welcome league leaders, Liverpool to St James’ Park.
Newcastle could climb to 12th with victory whereas Liverpool can move five points clear of second-placed Manchester United with a win.
Team News
Jonjo Shelvey could return for Newcastle after sitting out Saturday’s away defeat at Manchester City as he continues to recover from groin surgery late last month.
Callum Wilson (knock) could also feature but Martin Dubravka (heel), Paul Dummett, Jeff Hendrick (both illness), Ryan Fraser (groin), Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles (both Coronavirus) remain absent.
Liverpool could welcome Thiago Alcantara back from two months out with a knee injury.
Naby Keita (muscle) and Joel Matip (adductor) join Diogo Jota, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk (all knee) on the sidelines.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have lost each of their five meetings against Liverpool (L5).
- Liverpool are unbeaten in three of their last five trips to St James’ Park (W2, D1, L2).
- Steve Bruce’s Magpies lost both meetings last season by 3-1 results, with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane scoring three goals across both clashes.
- No Fullbacks have had more shots this season than Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has made 18 shots in 13 league appearances this season.
- Newcastle’s Karl Darlow has made 10 high claims in 14 league appearances this season compared to nine high claims in 10 appearances in 2017-18 season, after failing to feature in 2018-20 league campaigns.
Prediction
Given Newcastle’s slip in form, they have Karl Darlow to thank for keeping their defeat at Manchester City down to just two goals because they just lacked any real attacking intent, yet their robust defending at times caused confusion which contributed to the second conceded goal.
As for Liverpool, I expect to see them dominating here but they let their standards slip on Sunday against a stern West Brom defence once they got that first goal, but I do expect them to face another similar test and they should of learned their lesson and this time get a comfortable win.
Prediction: Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
Result: Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
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