Liverpool will hope to cut down the gap to Manchester City to just one point when they welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on Thursday.
Gameweek 17 of the 2021/22 Premier League season will draw to a close on Thursday, with three matches on show on the day. Liverpool will play hosts to Newcastle United in the final fixture on Thursday, as the two teams face off at Anfield.
Liverpool have bounced back well from their defeat to West Ham United in November, winning each of their last seven games. However, the Reds have not been in full flow in the past fortnight, having been made to work hard to garner all three points by Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League. But they have got the job done somehow.
On the other hand, Newcastle United’s inconsistencies are not letting up, even though they have finally mustered their first win of the Premier League campaign this month. However, the Magpies remain in the relegation battle with a joint-low 10 points from 16 games thus far. But 17th-placed Watford are only three points clear, giving the Tyneside outfit a ray of hope.
Liverpool and Newcastle United played out a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture last season, with Joe Willock snatching a point with the game’s final kick after Mohamed Salah had given the Reds a third-minute lead. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
We’re LIVE as Jürgen Klopp looks ahead to #LIVNEW tomorrow night! ? https://t.co/eysjkjdeb2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 15, 2021
Jurgen Klopp does not have any fresh injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of the visit of Newcastle United. On Thursday, the Liverpool manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players.
Adrian (calf), Nathaniel Phillips (head), Harvey Elliott (ankle) and Curtis Jones (eye) are certain to miss out. In addition, Divock Origi remains a major doubt due to a minor knee injury that has troubled him in the last few days.
However, there is some good news, as Roberto Firmino is fit and available after taking part in full training this week. However, the game will have come too soon for the Brazilian to be a part of the starting eleven. As a result, Diogo Jota will spearhead the Liverpool attack, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane flanking him.
As for the rest of the team, Klopp could make a few rotations, with Naby Keita in line to start instead of Thiago Alcantara in the midfield unit. The Guinean midfielder will join Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson in the middle of the park.
Ibrahima Konate should partner with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool defence. The centre-back duo will be flanked by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, the two marauding full-backs. Finally, in goal, there is no looking past Alisson Becker.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Jota, Mane
Newcastle United
Unlike his counterpart in the Liverpool dugout, Eddie Howe has a fresh injury concern to deal with ahead of the trip to Anfield. On Saturday, Newcastle United manager will be without two first-team players, with Federico Fernandez (thigh) and Paul Dummett (calf) missing out for the visitors.
? Eddie Howe speaks to the media ahead of #LIVNEW tomorrow:
"Paul Dummett is still out long term, although he's making good progress. We've lost Federico Fernández through injury. We're not sure of the extent, but he'll miss this game and the majority over the festive period." pic.twitter.com/nlhPoa6AHW
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 15, 2021
Martin Dubravka will take his place between the sticks for Newcastle United, and in front of him, the Magpies will line up in a 5-4-1 formation. The major responsibility will fall on Fabian Schar, Ciaran Clark and Jamal Lascelles, with the trio looking to remain compact at the back.
Jamal Lewis and former Liverpool defender Javier Manquillo will be the two full-backs. The duo will aim to largely stay deep and snuff out the space for Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to exploit. Up ahead in midfield, Jonjoy Shelvey and Isaac Hayden will be the key players for Newcastle.
Former Liverpool midfielder Shelvey will be in charge of keeping things tight in the middle of the park while also looking to give Newcastle a semblance of control on the counter. Out wide, Allan Saint-Maximin will be the major point of threat for the Magpies, with the Frenchman and Callum Wilson being the most potent attackers for the visitors.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Dubravka; Manquillo, Schar, Clark, Lascelles, Lewis; Joelinton, Hayden, Shelvey, Saint-Maximin; Wilson
Key Stats
- Newcastle United have failed to win any of the past 25 away meetings with Liverpool, both in the Premier League and in all competitions.
- Liverpool have won seven successive games in all competitions by an aggregate score of 18-2. The Reds have equalled the club record of scoring in 31 consecutive league and cup matches, set from April 1957 to January 1958.
- Newcastle’s solitary league victory in 16 attempts this season came against Burnley earlier this month. The only team to win one of its opening 17 Premier League games and avoid relegation was West Bromwich Albion in 2004/05.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in 12 home league fixtures since a run of six successive defeats at Anfield between January and March.
- Mohamed Salah can equal Jamie Vardy’s record of scoring or setting up a goal in 15 consecutive Premier League appearances. Salah has scored against Newcastle at Anfield in each of the last four seasons.
Player to Watch
Diogo Jota
Roberto Firmino is nearly fit enough to start games again, while Divock Origi is experiencing another resurgence. In such a scenario, the pressure is ramping up on Diogo Jota to continue putting in the hard yards and impress Jurgen Klopp enough to keep his place ahead of the other two strikers.
In line to return to the starting eleven against Newcastle, Jota has the opportunity to deliver the goods by capitalising on the vulnerabilities of the visitors’ defensive unit. A stellar showing on Thursday could go a long way in helping him cement his place ahead of the tougher excursions that await in January.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United
Newcastle United have shown some signs of improvement since Eddie Howe took charge of the side. However, Liverpool are too strong for them to mount any type of challenge on Thursday, and the Reds should cruise to a straightforward win at Anfield. Any repeat of the two results from last season is highly unlikely, and even though the Reds are not in full flow, one can expect them to garner all three points.
Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota will ultimately make the difference, with Liverpool beating Newcastle United 2-0. The result will help the Reds bring the gap to Premier League leaders Manchester City back down to one point after the champions thrashed Leeds United 7-0 on Tuesday.