LIVERPOOL XI TO FACE NEWCASTLE AS PREDICTED AND TEAM NEWS 

Boxing Day 2023 saw Liverpool defeated Burnley, and going into the New Year, they hope to maintain their winning ways in the hunt for the title race.

Newcastle visits Anfield on January 1, 2024, and Eddie Howe’s team has one of the more favourable schedules the Reds could ask for—at least on paper.

The Magpies are in terrible shape as they have dropped eight of their last 12 games across all competitions, most recently a 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest.

Their season has been disrupted thus far by an injury problem, and Howe may be missing as many as nine regular first-team players for the encounter on January 1.

Furthermore, Liverpool has won five straight games against Newcastle and hasn’t dropped a Premier League home game against the Magpies since 1994.

Howe has also been dominated by Jurgen Klopp in their most recent encounters. When Klopp’s team defeated another elite manager 2-1 in August, driven by Darwin Nuñez, he made history by becoming the first Premier League manager to win 11 games in a row.

This is how Klopp might arrange his team on Monday.

Goalkeeper and Defence 

For the first time since October, Alisson Becker will look to begin the New Year with back-to-back Premier League clean sheets.

Captain Virgil van Dijk, who was sent off in the rematch against Newcastle back in August, will be in front of him. Ibrahima Konate, who missed the Boxing Day victory over Burnley, ought to be paired with the captain, with young Jarell Quansah receiving greater playing time.

Due to injuries to Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez is the clear choice for left back. Trent Alexander-Arnold will continue to play in his hybrid role on the right.

Luke Chambers and Calum Scanlon, two young players who made their Europa League debuts this season, may sit out this game.

Midfield 

Before leaving for the Asian Cup, Wataru Endo is probably going to play his final game as the foundation of the Reds’ midfield.

The Japan captain had a slow start, but he is already clicking. Playing five games in 13 days, Endo became the first Liverpool player in eighteen years when he was named on the team sheet for the victory over Burnley on Boxing Day.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones are preferred, thus Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch—who both started at Turf Moor—may be benched once more for Newcastle’s visit.

Given that Klopp is fully aware of the Argentine’s importance to the team during Endo’s absence in January, Alexis Mac Allister is not likely to make a quick recovery from his injury.

Attack

For Liverpool supporters who have been missing the Portuguese striker’s finishing prowess in recent weeks, Diogo Jota’s goalscoring cameo against Burnley was a welcome sight.

He might be given a starting role against Newcastle, along with Darwin Nuñez, the other Boxing Day goal scorer who broke a 12-game Liverpool goal drought.

The Uruguayan turned the tide of the match against Newcastle back in August when he scored twice in the 2-1 triumph after coming off the bench.

Mohamed Salah, who has 12 goal involvements (six goals, six assists) in 14 prior Premier League games versus Newcastle, will start on the right.

PREDICTED STARTING XI TO FACE NEWCASTLE:

(4-3-3): Allison; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones; Salah, Nuñez, Jota