Magpies trip to Anfield can mean only one thing – A Goalfest

Saturday sees Newcastle’s annual pilgrimage to Anfield to face the high-flying reds of Liverpool.

If all goes well for the remainder of the season, that pilgrimage will continue into next season but as we sit just two points above the drop zone, work must still be done.

On paper, it would appear that now is a bad time to play the Reds (who have netted nine times in their last 180 minutes of action) but actually, there is reason to be relatively optimistic with the stats their to help lighten the pressure.

What do the stats say?

Over the years, we have witnessed some truly scintillating match-ups between the two with the Magpies holding up well.

Our last trip to Anfield yielded a point despite going 2-0 down. Papiss Cisse and Jack Colback were the heroes that particular day and although neither will be on the field this Saturday, one would sense that most of us would be happy to get away with that result again.

Newcastle have won three of the last ten meetings between the two with four draws and three wins for Liverpool so actually things are looking up.

However, there is a slight problem. None of those three wins for the Magpies have come at Anfield. In fact, you have to go as far back as 1994 for the last time we claimed all three points at Liverpool.

That said, just one defeat in our last eight games at least paints a rosier picture (even if five of them have been draws) and thanks to some of the best Newcastle football stats available right at your fingertips, another upset like the one inflicted on Manchester United could be on the cards.

Goals Goals Goals

This is because Liverpool and Newcastle have a rich history of scoring goals and plenty of goals means plenty of opportunity.

Remarkably, the last time this fixture (either at Anfield or St James Park) ended in 0-0 was 1974. That means that in the last 63 times the two have played, at least one goal has been scored.

That is a sensational statistic and one that should confirm the fact that we should be in for some compelling viewing.

During that 63-game history, there has been a 6-0, a 5-0, a 5-1, two 4-3’s, a 4-2, three 4-1’s and two 4-0’s along with a combination of 3-2’s, 3-0’s 3-1’s etc.

Goals have been in such abundance, it was almost a disappointment when the reverse fixture this season finished 1-1 at St James Park in October.

Admittedly, most of those big wins came in favour of Liverpool but we have claimed a healthy 4-1, 3-0 and multiple 3-1 and win 2-1 wins in that 63-game time frame.

History is a wonderful thing

Statistics are wonderful things as we can always tailor them to see a shining light at the end of the tunnel.

However, the simple fact, is that the action happens for real this Saturday evening and come what may, we know we are going to have to score if we are going to even get a point away at Liverpool.

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