Liverpool continue their Premier League title push in a huge clash against top-four-chasing Newcastle at Anfield.
Victory could put Liverpool as much as 14 points clear of Arsenal if they can better the Gunners’ result at Nottingham Forest.
Should Man City slip up at Tottenham, Newcastle can go fourth with a win.
Team News
Liverpool will have Alexis Mac Allister available despite the Argentinean suffering a swollen cheek in a collision during the Reds’ 2-0 win at Man City.
Conor Bradley (muscle) and Joe Gomez (hamstring) remain absent.
Newcastle have no fresh injury concerns to report following their dramatic 4-3 home victory over Forest.
Sven Botman (knee) could return if match-fit but Joelinton and Jamaal Lascelles (both knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Liverpool host Newcastle on Wednesday 26 February at Anfield in a 8:15pm GMT kick-off, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have dropped just two points in their last seven meetings against Newcastle (W6, D1).
- Newcastle have claimed only five points in their last 28 league visits to Anfield (D5, L23).
- Mohamed Salah has scored twice in each of Liverpool’s last two meetings against Newcastle (W1, D1), with all four goals across both games scored after half-time.
- Just 26 of Liverpool’s 64 league goals so far in this campaign were scored at home.
- Out of 29 league goals scored by three Swedish players so far this season, 19 of those goals were netted by Newcastle’s Alexander Isak alone.
Prediction
Despite not playing at their peak best at Man City, Liverpool were crucially clinical when needed with excellent organisation and composure to otherwise quieten City’s attacking threats in a fairly solid if unspectacular contest, but I do expect them to bounce back with a more energetic display.
Newcastle on the other hand must play with the energetic intensity which saw them beat Forest in the first half of their eventual thriller, as they just seemed stuck in neutral gears for much of the second half and were lucky to not throw away the win despite some sloppy defensive work.
Either way, I do expect Liverpool to bring more energy because this is a huge opportunity to get a positive result to take into next week’s Champions League trip to PSG, although Newcastle won’t make it easy despite their poor away record at Anfield and they should have the quality to grind out a draw here.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle
Result: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle
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