Eager to right the wrongs of last weekend’s defeat at Brighton, we welcome Liverpool to St James’ Park tomorrow afternoon for yet another ‘Super Sunday’ clash live on Sky Sports.
It’s a famous Premier League fixture and one which always seems to whip up a great atmosphere. The brilliant Gallowgate Flags are also set to put on their biggest display yet, promising to provide yet another superb spectacle at St James’, whilst chants of ‘Rafa Benitez’ may even come from both sets of supporters – with the scousers understandably having a soft spot for the man who gave the a Champions League trophy.
As for the game itself, I have mixed thoughts. You can’t help but hope there’ll be a response from the below par performance at Brighton, however it may take a tactical master class from Rafa and a monumental effort from the team to keep Klopp’s free scoring forward line at bay. That being said, the visitors have conceded a whopping TEN goals in their three away outings so far in the league this season.
As ever this season, I expect us to sit deep, aim to absorb any pressure and hit them on the counter as and when an opening emerges. We must stay patient and compact, whilst Liverpool will no doubt press high and play with real intensity – in their attacking third anyway.
Our strengths this season have largely been our defensive solidarity and our weakness has tended to be in attack. In contrast, Liverpools look devastating going forward, but can be there for the taking defensively. Two contrasting styles, a case of defence vs attack and a tough one for us to come out on top of.
The Team
Team wise I don’t actually suspect many changes despite a defeat last time out. I get the feeling Lejeune will be seen as our best centre back before long, but highly doubt he’ll be thrown in for this one, with Lascelles and Clark highly likely to continue at the back.
Either side of them, Yedlin and Mbemba will be facing the difficult task of marking Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, with Mane vs Yedlin looking like a particularly tasty battle of two real speed freaks.
Hayden was poor at Brighton and didn’t offer nearly enough, meaning there’ll be even more calls for Shelvey to return to the side at his expense. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of the a potential Shelvey-Merino partnership, but I’m not sure this is the right time to try it. Hayden has his limitations but I’m sure we’ll agree he offers more defensively than Shelvey, providing higher energy and discipline off the ball.
Shelvey gives us much more when we have the ball, but I’m not expecting us to have much of it during tomorrow’s game. For these reasons, I expect Rafa to go with Hayden once again – after all, we’ve won both home games he and Merino have started. Both are defensively sound, whilst Merino also possesses that quality on the ball to thread passes and instigate attacks.
Ritchie and Atsu will almost certainly start out wide once again and we’ll require big performances at both ends of the pitch from those two.
In the final third, Perez & Joselu have started the last last three, but have lacked final product in their last two outings in particular. For this reason I’d be tempted to try Shelvey in a slightly advanced midfield role in Perez’s place. It’s unlikely to happen, but I feel Shelvey has the cutting edge Ayoze often lacks and that could be key, with us needing to take advantage of every opening Liverpool may give us tomorrow.
Joselu has gained some slightly harsh criticism over the past few weeks for me. Yes he’s missed some BIG chances – one of which cost us dearly at Brighton – however his all round play has been good, having put himself about and given us a focal point up top.
It goes without saying that he’ll need to start converting his chances soon or it could continue to cost us and ruin his confidence in front of goal, but people often say the most worrying time for a striker is when they aren’t getting any chances to score at all and he’s getting himself in good positions to score.
I’d understand temptations to start Gayle, who’d more than likely gobble up the chances Joselu has been missing, but I’d like to see the Spaniard given another crack at it. His former teammate Steve Sidwell stated this week that he was the best finisher at Stoke, and as hard as this may seem to believe right now, it may just be a matter of time until things click if he keeps getting himself into good goalscoring positions.
Aleksandar Mitrovic is back from a ban, but he’ll have to show Rafa he can be trusted before he’s handed start in his side.
The Opposition
Liverpool’s front four look ridiculously good, with the quartet of Salah, Coutinho, Mane and Firmino all fit and available to play – meaning tomorrow will be the first time Klopp has had the opportunity to field his awesome foursome in the league this season.
Salah & Mane will most likely start out wide, with the pair possessing frightening pace & an eye for goal, with the duo having already scored 7 times in just 8 league starts between them this season.
Coutinho has a wand of a right foot and can’t be afforded any space – even from 30 yards, with so many of his goals coming from range.
Then there’s Firmino. A skilful player who may be hard to pick up in the false number 9 role he’s often taken up this season.
In midfield Gini Wijnaldum will make his return to Tyneside. He’s improved his all round game according to Klopp and, as we saw during his season at the club, he likes to score at St James’ – however he doesn’t do goals away from home remember? (Fully expect him to score now!).
As good as they look going forward, they have been leaky in defence, having failed to keep a clean sheet in six attempts away from home this season. They have ongoing issues in goal, have lacked continuity at full-back and look vulnerable from set pieces, offering three areas we must look to exploit tomorrow.
For a closer look at tomorrow’s opponents, see our weekly feature ‘The Opposition Opinion’. Here we’ve been speaking to Liverpool fan Peter who has offered some insight into this Liverpool side, his thoughts on NUFC and how he thinks the game may pan out.
Form
Newcastle (9th) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 3 / Drawn: 0 / Lost: 2
Liverpool (5th) – Last 5 in the league / Won: 3 / Drawn: 0 / Lost: 2
Team News
Aleksandar Mitrovic is available for the first time this month after completing a 3-match suspension, with Paul Dummett and Massaido Haidara the only absentees through injury.
Rafa confirmed Florian Lejeune is back after missing Brighton and in contention once again, giving Benitez some healthy selection problems to mull over this weekend.
Liverpool will have Senegalese winger Sadio Mane back from a ban and, unfortunately for us, Philipe Coutinho has rejoined the fold in recent weeks, meaning he’ll be up to speed and ready to start after missing their opening four games of the season.
Nathaniel Clyne remains out with a back injury, while Adam Lallana is still deemed several weeks away from returning.
Predicted Line-ups
Newcastle United XI – (4-2-3-1) – Elliot – Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba – Hayden, Merino – Ritchie, Shelvey , Atsu – Joselu
Perez OUT, Shelvey IN – This is a sneaky suspicion of mine and a prediction I’m making more in hope than expectation, but I’ll go with it. Shelvey is one of few players in our team who can unlock the door and I believe he has the ability to do more damage just ahead of a midfield pivot than Perez has playing off the striker. If this were to happen, he’d likely take up a slightly deeper starting position than the one Perez normally does, however this would give us the option of him falling back into a three-man midfield, offering greater protection when Liverpool have the ball?
Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Mignolet – Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Robertson – Wijnaldum, Henderson, Coutinho – Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Head-to-Heads
We’re unbeaten in our last three against Liverpool at St. James’, winning two and drawing one. Ironically, the last home win against the Reds came at the hands of ex-NUFC and current Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum, who sealed a 2-0 win with a 93rd minute goal in 2015.
Match Prediction
I see this being our toughest test this season. I expect us to be ‘at it’ in response to our tame display at Brighton last weekend, but whether that will be be enough contain this frighteningly good Liverpool attack is another matter entirely.
Liverpool can be sloppy and naive, so I see us scoring and making it competitive, but fear they might just have a little too much for us to handle in attack.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-3 Liverpool
Howay the lads!
Icedog: I am really surprised that Rafa is the bookies’ favourite for the Bayern job. From what I have read it was player power that ousted Ancelotti and that would just be a repeat of Real Madrid. They also supposedly have the Hoffenheim coach lined up for next year. I lived in Munich for a while so still follow them a bit.
Rummenigge runs the show and I am not sure Rafa would like that because it would be just a repeat of Perez at Madrid and the Sith Lord at Chelsea. When I was in Munich Karl Heinz was a God and I doubt much has changed.
Perhaps Munich Mag could explain as it seems strange to me that Rafa would be in the running.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Comprehensive write up Olly. Cheers. Yes Joselu is grafting but his job as a lone striker is to score goals. He is not doing that. Neither is our #10. If they cant get on song quickly then somebody needs to be given a go – or we will get relegated. Simple as that.
shamrock(Quote)
Great read Olly and I agree I would love to see Shelvey in Perez position. I also agree about Joselu, he is far more mobile than Dwight but as Sham says he has to start converting or we are in trouble.
Maybe Rafa thinks there is a better understanding between Joselu and Perez ? He obviously is frustrated with Gayle , that’s obvious and you can understand his mistrust of Mitro too, though I personally would start Mitro.
Gonna have to soak up so much pressure tomorrow, are they up to it, soon find out .
This won’t be are toughest test imo, that will be the Manchester sides, especially Manure who have powerful front men.
KIMTOON(Quote)
It’s a game made for Mitro. I can never see us beating them but somehow we do. Same with Chelsea and Manu. HTL!
georgio(Quote)
Bookies odds are:
Away win 8-11
Home win 9-2
Draw 3-1
All of the pundits have us down as a loss, even Olly. Should we even bother turning up since it is a foregone conclusion 🙂
That was a bit of a fib. Ryder has us down for a win!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
our not are, I meant to say 🙄 tired brain, too many sleepless nights. Day 33 and the lad still hacking half the night 🙁
KIMTOON(Quote)
as i said the other day the sale moved along a little bit,now a couple of rags are talking about it as i said the chinese seem to be front runners,at least my contact is not giving me ****
icedog(Quote)
Bloody Hell. Kane is playing like Shearer before his injuries. Spurs 3 up after 25 mins.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aye two real good goals from him
Icedog(Quote)
They haven’t had much to worry about but what a good defender Jones of m/u is powerful guy
Icedog(Quote)
Well another big loss for Palace today and still no goals… can’t you just see it, that they will break their duck against us…
I think Liverpool are beatable and we have a decent record against them at SJP I think… I’m sticking my neck out and saying 2-1 to us … ??
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Mackems 2nd bottom. And Brum got beat 6-1 and are 3rd bottom. ‘Arry brought in 9 new players and 5 loans and Sunderland supposedly had a premier league squad, or at least players with PL experience and others who had played in top European leagues. Maybe a certain fat controller will understand the job Rafa, and Chris Hughton for that matter, did last year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Really can’t see Palace staying up now.
Stuart79(Quote)
😆 😆 😆 Another great laugh for me when Rafa was asked why wearside jack was not in team photo,Rafa said he turned up for photo and I told him to go train with the kids
Icedog(Quote)
??????
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Ice: Colback said he didn’t go to Wolves because of the location. He doesn’t have to live in Wolverhampton and there are a lot of very nice places to visit within a short distance. I would have understood if he had said it was because of the black country accent 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I would have understood if he said the colour of the strip would clash with his hair ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
I worry that we’ll show them too much respect, starting with Rafa and including most of the players. If you look at their actual results, they’re not world beaters and have problems defending. No doubt we will sit back and not test their defense enough.
DJG(Quote)
defence not defense. 👿
DJG(Quote)
Talking scum, a young 7yr boy in court for custody battle,judge gave custody to the mother no no said the boy she beats me,OK said judge I’ll give custody to your Antie,no no she beats me to,what about your grandparents no they beat me to,who would you like to go to boy say Sunderland FC,ok the judge says that’s fine they beat nobody 😆 😆
Icedog(Quote)
The Chronic are wondering if there is any officiating bias against NUFC. I doubt it, but we have been a bit unlucky and I think since we are not one of the glamour teams we get stuck with second tier officials.
They bring up the scissor tackle by Kane and that was probably a sending off and put Lejuene out for a month. But the Ref will do all he can NOT to send off England’s current golden boy with Qualifiers in 2 weeks. In that respect there probably was bias but I don’t see it as across the board – more incompetence.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just watching MOTD, I said we were unlucky to play ‘Uddersfeeled on their first PL home game. They had that new team bounce. The adrenaline has worn off now and they are getting found out.
DJG(Quote)
Liverpool had the best record last year against other members of the expected top 6. They slipped up against teams they were expected to beat. Every pundit and his dog expects them to beat us. Just saying.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
DJG – that’s why I think it would be important to play Shelvey today. He was seen as not good enough for Lpool & he would want to put in a performance. I also think the workrate of Ritchie is important today. If he’s flying round like the Tasmania devil, then I think others follow that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Everton spent pretty big in the summer, but looking at their team today it’s pretty bang average i reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
they are bloody awful to watch in the first half,Burnley are playing a lot better than they did last season
icedog(Quote)
Everton have the same problem as us – who will score. I have the same problem that I always have, that the media and pundits had them in a league of 1 to get 7th place without really looking at what they did in the transfer market.
They’re only 1 down so far and I don’t think they will be relegated. There is always a team that underachieves and I said from the start it would be Everton.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I also have a problem that Phil Neville is co-commentating. They have about 15 that they rotate and they put in someone who played for 8 years at Everton.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Everton spent over 150 million in the summer, and £45 million of that I think was on Sigurdsson. On his performances so far I think he was worth 10-15 mil at best…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Ice – the 2nd half has been nee better so far & Rooney the saviour has been brought in to save the day.
Gylfi at £45m when they don’t have a forward is just madness.
They are there for the catching if we invest in our squad I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sigurdsson. at 45 mil is the worst player on the pitch
icedog(Quote)
Dubai – his stats speak for themselves at Swansea, but he struggled with the step up when he went to Spurs.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Amanda Stavely at the match – interesting.
Stuart79(Quote)
So Merono AND Shelvey.
No Mitro on bench.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
aye she has 30 billion in her back pocket
icedog(Quote)
she also looks after investments for Arab countrys
icedog(Quote)
Well, I wonder what’s up with Mbemba? Not even on the bench! No Mitro either, but good to see Shelvey and Merino start.
I cannot see us scoring many in this match… I hope I’m wrong.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Who is Amanda Stavely? Never heard of her…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Yes, I remember his stint at Spurs and he didn’t pull up any trees… Everton look poor today.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Perez leads a charmed life like. Not sure how he’s keeping his place at the mo – and would have preferred Shelvey in a midfield 3 personally.
Tell you what though, you could split that Lpool team in half. Forwards look amazing – defence looks *****. 2 fullbacks there id be telling Atsu & Ritchie to get at for sure. Free kicks out wide and we know how Lpool defend set plays – that could be our chance today like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mandy’s done well for herself then. You sat 3 desks away from me in maths at Ryton Comp ?. May be a different one though ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
HWTL
KIMTOON(Quote)
WOW, that is a magnificent strike
KIMTOON(Quote)
Perez and joselu are garbage. Fact!!
southshieldsgeordie(Quote)
Amanda has been charged with finding a PL club for her Arab employers to buy according to what I read a few weeks back. Think I may of posted a link to that particular story
KIMTOON(Quote)
gety innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Joselu
KIMTOON(Quote)
perfect pass from jon jo
KIMTOON(Quote)
Typical from Coutinho. Just like Robben, you know he is going to cut in onto his good foot and shoot but he still scores.
Everybody knows about it. I even know because I said on here not to let Coutinho cut in from the right. My only surprise was he went for the near post.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Difficult to play a team who have a player with a 130 million offer. Even Jordan Henderson broke our transfer record and that was about 5 years ago.
Still, level at HT so Howay the Lads.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well so far so good. Liverpool look so dangerous in attack and we look toothless. Let’s see how the second half goes. Commentators are creaming themselves over liverpool … ☹️
Dubai Toon(Quote)
that’s their default position mate 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Pool really should be ahead there
KIMTOON(Quote)
Good days work lads , well done. Take that
KIMTOON(Quote)
into the break with points in double figures 🙂
KIMTOON(Quote)
Yep, and 2 points on Merse’s predictions. EVERY SINGLE PUNDIT GOT IT WRONG.
There have been many games like this where one team dominates but don’t really create that many clear cut chances. We got lucky with Clark’s miskick and that pin-balling in the first half. But we didn’t allow easy shots.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well, I’ll take that… a good battling draw there. Yedlin I thought was excellent and so was Ritchie. A good point for us and we could’ve even snatched it at the end. 9th place.
Onwards and upwards!
Dubai Toon(Quote)
For all Liverpool’s excellence going forward they do not have that 25 goal striker that would make the difference. Imagine them with Kane, Aguero, Lukaku, Sanchez even Morata who the jury is out on?
What the hell are they doing spending 45 million on Oxlaide Chamberlain? Buy a plan B FFS for when you play a team like NUFC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
She is one of the richest lady’s in the world,she has been looking to buy a PL club for a couple of years she made it through investments,she also looks after some Arab investments,let’s hope she looking to buy the toon
Icedog(Quote)
Even Siggy for 45 mil he was never worth that even in today’s market
Icedog(Quote)
Ice: but you can see what Liverpool are crying out for – a clinical finisher. They are playing with like 3 1/2 false 9s almost like Barca used to. But Barca had Messi.
All they have to do is look at their own recent history when they had a decent team but then they had Suarez.
You add 15 million to Ox’s 45 and I am sure you could get a decent finisher. Why buy a player who you don’t need.
I think Kimtoon put a quote on here from Thiery Henry who said he had watched Ox many, many times and still doesn’t know what he actually does.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
But, that’s enough about them. Excellent result for us and may, MAY, make the International Break more bearable. Our other bogey team up next, but Saints have looked pretty **** really.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well despite not playing well, that was maybe the point that we should of had from Spuds. This time Shelvey stayed on the pitch and played in a jammy Joselu. Good result though, I would hate to have lost to that lot and their pundits. It seemed like they had 99% possession in the last 20 minutes, not my game plan but we held on nonetheless.
DJG(Quote)
Very very good result but it beats me why Rafa keeps picking Perez he was bloody hopeless again he gave the ball away at least five times today
Icedog(Quote)
Eric, Liverpool aren’t our bogey team mate, 2 wins and a draw in the last 3 at home against a better team with massively bigger resources. Man city are our bogey team if anyone.
DJG(Quote)
DJG: I agree it is Man City now, but they will be everybody’s bogey team this year.
Backing up my point above though. Here are the shots stats from today:
NUFC: 8 attempts
5 on target (a couple of them lame, admittedly)
3 off target
Liverpool: 17 attempts
15 off target
2 on target
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: Perez is your new Colback 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
saints are defo one of our bogey teams, and they’re up next 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Klippidy klop should get the sack, he’s got about £250million worth of talent playing and he couldn’t win a raffle.
DJG(Quote)
Pools goal was a beauty mind, spectacular
KIMTOON(Quote)
Nice to hear Sounness say we deserved the draw and did a good job. Same with Klopp.
shamrock(Quote)
Lorra Lorra laughs Lawro said Rafa would shake his hand off for a point before a ball was kicked (against a team who’ve lost the last 2 attempts). Go back into your nineteen seventies cave Lawro. x
DJG(Quote)
I think there will be some changes for the next game:
1. Atsu and MBemba will be off to Africa. Is MBemba injured?
2. Clark being with the ROI will allow him to be rested for Rafa to look at Lejuene. Not saying we should drop Clark for one miskick because he has played well for us since he got here.
3. We cannot continue with Joselu and Perez. Against a team like Saints who will not press we have to try to get more goals. Either Gayle or Mitro have to be given a chance.
But, Shelvey and Moreno looked good together.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Now there’s a good thought,but he has been useless lately,get him dropped it might pick him up
Icedog(Quote)
Clear what the game plan was from Rafa and because of the work being done on the training ground we have a better chance of executing it right. Wasn’t pretty but against the tops sides were going to have to play like this.
Good point.
Stuart79(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/10/01/newcastle-1-1-liverpool-resilient-display-earns-hard-fought-point-against-the-reds/
A few post match thoughts from me! Good point that!!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)