Newcastle United welcome title-chasing Liverpool to St James’ Park in an intriguing Premier League clash on Tyneside.
Victory will see Newcastle stay ninth and move to within six points of the final European qualification spot, whereas Liverpool can go top for at least a few hours with a win.
Team News
Newcastle have no fresh injury concerns after their win at Norwich last weekend as Kieran Trippier (foot), Jamal Lewis (groin), Ryan Fraser (hamstring), Isaac Hayden (knee) and Callum Wilson (calf) remain absent.
Liverpool could welcome Konstantinos Tsimikas and Curtis Jones back into contention after the pair missed their midweek Champions League win over Villarreal due to illness.
Manager, Jurgen Klopp however could rotate his squad for this match to give key players like Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah a rest ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Villarreal.
Roberto Firmino (foot) remains doubtful as he nears a return to full fitness.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have claimed just four points from their last ten meetings against Liverpool (D4, L6).
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last four visits to St James’ Park (W2, D2), with Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi both finding the net in two of the Reds’ last three visits.
- Each of Newcastle’s last three defeats against Liverpool have been by the scoreline of 3-1, with just one of those results coming at St James’ Park.
- Mohamed Salah is yet to score a headed league goal this season for Liverpool.
- Eddie Howe’s Magpies have conceded just once in their last four matches (W4) – which came in a 2-1 home win over Leicester.
Prediction
With four consecutive victories on the bounce, Newcastle are coming into this match with a real danger about them which could well suit them as underdogs on their home turf here, especially given how clinical they were at Norwich last weekend with great attacking energy and press.
Liverpool though have a two goal lead heading into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Villarreal, so their line-up should be interesting to monitor because I expect Klopp to rest some key players or at minimum utilise them as substitutes.
Klopp’s Reds though have found themselves playing the patience approach with no goals in their last two matches, only to grab eventual 2-0 wins so Eddie Howe will need his Magpies’ defence on top form and for attack to take their chances perfectly if the hosts are to win here.
This game though should be very close given the form of both teams and Liverpool’s slightly inconsistent record in recent visits, although I am punting on a crucial away win to put pressure on Manchester City in the title race.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
Result: Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
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