Liverpool will host Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday, looking to continue their Premier League title charge.
Liverpool are coming into the game vs Newcastle United on the back of a sensational win over Manchester City this past weekend, and they will be full of confidence to continue their unbeaten run. The Reds are currently 11 points clear at the top of the table, and a win over Newcastle United could prove to be vital in the context of the title race.
It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can continue their impressive run of form against the Tyneside outfit and grind out all three points. The home team are unbeaten in their last six meetings against Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, the visitors have been quite inconsistent in recent weeks, and they have lost three of their last five Premier League matches. They will need to raise their performance levels to grind out a good result here. The last time these two sides met, they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in December. It will be interesting to see how this contest unfolds.
Both teams are capable of bringing out a good result here, and this is likely to be a cracking contest. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Joe Gomez is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Conor Bradley picked up a knock against Aston Villa, and he will miss out as well. Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Newcastle United, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add defensive cover, composure and control to the side. Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates from the attacking midfield role.
Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add creativity and goals from the wide areas, with Darwin Nunez leading the line for Liverpool vs Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday. So, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo will be options on the bench for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Newcastle United
Newcastle United will be without Jamaal Lascelles due to a long-term knee injury. Joelinton has a knock as well. Newcastle United will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Liverpool, with Nick Pope in goal.
Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things tight at the back and hit Liverpool on the break. Sven Botman will form the central defensive unit alongside Fabian Schar.
As for the midfield unit, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Sean Longstaff will start in the middle of the park. Tonali and Longstaff will look to win the ball back for their side and break up opposition attacks, while Guimaraes will add creativity and drive to the side.
Alexander Isak will lead the line for Newcastle United vs Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, with Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Botman, Schar, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Key Stats
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 24 home matches vs Newcastle United across all competitions.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 23 matches in the Premier League.
- 21 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- Newcastle United have lost three of their last five matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have scored at least twice in each of their last 17 home games in all competitions. The last English top-flight side to have a longer run were Sunderland, who did so in 19 consecutive matches between February and December 1935.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Liverpool star is our key player to watch out for. Salah has been in formidable form this season, and he has already registered 50 goal contributions for the 2024/25 campaign. The experienced attacker was outstanding against Manchester City in his last outing, and he was exceptional against Newcastle United earlier this season. In addition, he has a superb record against the Magpies.
Salah has scored four goals in last two Premier League games against Newcastle United, netting a brace in both. The last player to score multiple goals in three consecutive appearances against an opponent in the competition was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Burnley (May 2019), while the only Liverpool player to do so was Michael Owen, who did so four times vs Newcastle between August 1998 and May 2001.
Meanwhile, Salah is one home strike away from scoring 10+ home goals and 10+ away goals in three different Premier League campaigns (also 2017/18 and 2021/22). Before this season, only Harry Kane had ever done so in 3+ seasons (2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2020/21 and 2022/23). He will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates on Wednesday night and find the back of the net as well.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United
Both teams are capable of grinding out a good result here, and this will be a close contest. Neither side will want to sit back and defend. They will take an attacking approach, and an open game is expected with a fair few chances.
Both teams are likely to get on the scoresheet Liverpool have enough quality in the final third to grind out a narrow victory. The Premier League leaders should be able to grind out all three points here. A home win is on the cards for Liverpool. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Arne Slot and his charges.
