Liverpool will host Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday, with both teams looking to get their UEFA Champions League qualification hopes back on track.
Liverpool are without a win in the last five Premier League matches ahead of the game vs Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday. They will be desperate to bounce back strongly. It remains to be seen whether they can pick up all three points at home.
Liverpool picked up a 6-0 win over Qarabag in the UEFA Champions League midweek, which will have given them a confidence boost. It remains to be seen whether they can step up and get the job done.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are coming into this game on the back of a defeat against Aston Villa in the Premier League. However, the Magpies managed to secure an impressive draw against PSG in the UEFA Champions League earlier this week, and they will look to pull off an upset here.
Liverpool have been quite vulnerable in recent weeks, and Newcastle United will fancy their chances. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
The home team will be without Joe Gomez (hip), Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (knee), Conor Bradley (knee), and Alexander Isak (fracture). Liverpool are likely to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Newcastle United, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Calvin Ramsay and Milos Kerkez will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Gravenberch will start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in the double pivot, aiming to add control and composure to the team. Alexis Mac Allister will look to create opportunities for teammates in the final third.
Finally, Hugo Ekitike will spearhead the Liverpool attack vs Newcastle United at Anfield on Saturday night, with Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Ramsay, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike
Newcastle United
Emil Krafth (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (undisclosed), Tino Livramento (thigh), Joelinton (groin), and Fabian Schar (ankle) are all ruled out for the away side.
Newcastle United will shape up in a 4-3-1-2 formation vs Liverpool, with Aaron Ramsdale in goal. Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw will pair up at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Lewis Miley will start in the middle of the park alongside Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. Guimaraes and Miley will look to add creativity and drive to the side, while Tonali looks to provide defensive cover.
Anthony Gordon will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create openings in the final third. Finally, Nick Woltemade will lead the line for Newcastle United vs Liverpool alongside Yoane Wissa.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Ramsdale; Trippier, Botman, Thiaw, Hall; Bruno, Tonali, Miley; Gordon; Wissa, Woltemade
Key Stats
- Liverpool are without a win in their last five Premier League matches.
- Newcastle United have picked up three wins and a draw from their last five Premier League matches.
- 25 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams. Liverpool have picked up eight wins from their last ten matches against Newcastle United.
- Only Sunderland (7) and Wolves (7) have failed to score in more Premier League away games than Newcastle this season (6). 70% of the Magpies away goals this term (7/10) have come in their two wins on the road (4-1 vs Everton, 3-1 vs Burnley).
- No side has scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season than Liverpool (13), while only Bournemouth (13) have conceded more in this time frame than Newcastle UNited (12).
Player to Watch
Nick Woltemade
The German striker is our key player to watch. He could cause all sorts of problems for a struggling Liverpool defence. Woltemade is excellent at holding up the ball and bringing others into the play.
Newcastle United will depend on him to create opportunities in the final third and link up with his teammates. Woltemade will look to find the back of the net as well. Liverpool have been quite poor defensively, and the German attacker is likely to get his chances. Newcastle will need him to produce a strong performance to get all three points here.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle United
Both teams will be fighting for a victory here, and this is likely to be a close contest. Matches between these two teams are often packed with goals. Neither side is defensive in their approach, and this will be an open game with plenty of chances.
The two sides are likely to get on the score sheet here. Neither team is solid defensively, and their back four could let them down again. A draw is quite likely, and the two teams will share the spoils.