Tag: Liverpool vs. Newcastle

The Premier League’s New Year’s Day schedule for 2024 includes a battle of the North when Liverpool hosts Newcastle United at their Anfield base on Monday.

The Reds’ 2-0 victory over Burnley on Boxing Day put them atop the table, while Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 home victory over the Magpies last time out left them humbled.

Match Preview 

In Liverpool’s thrilling pre-Christmas draw with leaders Arsenal, wasted opportunities came back to haunt the team. Jurgen Klopp’s team nearly suffered a similar fate at Turf Moor, when chance after chance went begging following Darwin Nunez’s beautiful opener.

But even as the supporters of Burnley started to speak up following two Reds goals that were called back—one much more controversial than the other—Vince Kompany’s team was unable to take advantage of the situation, and Diogo Jota sealed the victory for Liverpool in the 90th minute with a shot from an extremely close angle.

At Turf Moor, goals from Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo were disallowed. Klopp called the latter strike “insane” because he believed Mohamed Salah was interfering from an offside position. However, Liverpool currently holds first place after Arsenal lost to West Ham United at home a few days later.

It remains to be seen, though, if the Reds will ring in the New Year on top. Arsenal can reclaim their position temporarily by defeating Fulham on New Year’s Eve; before that, a fantastic nine goals would take Aston Villa to the top against Burnley.

They won four of their next five games to draw one, but they haven’t lost on New Year’s Day since 2005. They won their first eleven home games of the new season and then drew their last three matches at Anfield, which may have soured the mood a little.

On the other hand, the Newcastle supporters, who were doomed to their sixth defeat in seven games against Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest because of a former marksman, will be hoping that the fresh Year will infuse fresh life into their undermanned and underperforming team.

Although Alexander Isak scored the opening goal from the penalty spot, Chris Wood’s incredible hat-trick of three exquisite left-footed goals startled St James’ Park and derailed the Boxing Day celebrations in the Northeast.

With the exception of victories against Fulham and Manchester United at home, December was a forgettable month for the Magpies, who currently sit in ninth position in the table and are considered European outsiders. However, it is unlikely that Howe’s team will go any lower at this point.

Given Newcastle’s early European exit, the fixture calendar may not appear as intimidating as it once did, but the Magpies still have games against Aston Villa and Manchester City this month, in addition to an intriguing FA Cup third-round matchup with rivals Sunderland the following weekend.

Prior to facing their opponents, Howe’s team must first put an end to a dismal four-game losing streak on the road at Anfield, where they lost 2-1 to a late Fabio Carvalho goal in the previous season and by the same score at St. James’ Park in August after a Nunez-inspired comeback.

Team news 

Six well-known injury issues will not be available for Liverpool to play with in 2024: Kostas Tsimikas (collarbone), Ben Doak (knee), Joel Matip (knee), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (hip), and Andrew Robertson (shoulder).

Alexis Mac Allister, who is nearing recovery from a serious knee cut, will also require evaluation by the medical staff. If well enough, he might make it into the matchday roster, but a start is probably out of the question.

Wataru Endo had a great December playing at number six, and he will probably return to that position on New Year’s Day. However, after being benched at Turf Moor, most, if not all, of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, and Luis Diaz should be recalled.

Newcastle’s injury list has dropped below ten players, but eight injured soldiers are expected to stay out of action in addition to Sandro Tonali, who will serve the remaining portion of his betting ban for the first eight months of 2024.

However, Joelinton was cleared to start on the bench on Boxing Day following his hamstring worry. Nick Pope (shoulder), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Harvey Barnes (foot), Jamaal Lascelles (groyne), Elliot Anderson (back), Javi Manquillo (groyne), Joe Willock (calf), and Matt Targett (thigh) are still out.

Given the unexpected effect of the inexperienced Lewis Miley, the Brazilian should put Sean Longstaff’s spot in the starting lineup in jeopardy. Howe might also be tempted to replace Dan Burn with Tino Livramento, but the former’s massive frame might be useful against Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Miley; Almiron, Isak, Gordon

Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle United

The 10th time in the Premier League that Liverpool has overcome the Magpies after falling down is remarkable; it is more than any other matchup in the history of the tournament. However, the hosts shouldn’t have to summon their reserves of resilience on Monday.

Klopp’s team is still a little worried about their ability to convert opportunities, but since Newcastle is still unable to find a way to win away from home, the table-topping Reds should start 2024 as strong as possible.

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 

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