Paul Merson, Michael Owen and Mark Lawrenson have all shared their predictions ahead of Newcastle vs Liverpool on Saturday night – and they’re all expecting a tough game but a comfortable win for the Reds.
Merson and Lawrenson have both backed a 0-2 away win, while Owen believes Klopp’s side will win by at least one goal
That said, Owen points out that we’ve lost just ONE of our last 6 home games in the league against Liverpool – a surprising stat that could strike fear into some on Merseyside.
Starting with Merson, here’s what the Sky Sports pundit has had to say ahead of the game tomorrow night:
Paul Merson
“You hope Liverpool win, you really do, because otherwise you look at it and the fact they lost 3-0 at Barcelona, and if they draw here their season’s fizzled out in four days. I think they’ll win, the other night they just came up against an extraordinary club. They don’t deserve their season to fizzle out. They should at least take it to the last day.
“Newcastle will make it a long night for them, they’re used to being tight, they don’t have to entertain, their fans know what they’re like, they’ll make it hard and it’ll be a tough one.”
Merson’s prediction – Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
“You hope Liverpool win, you really do”. Do you Paul? Based on what I’ve seen on social media over the past few weeks and months, I’m not sure that is the case!
He’s right about us, we’ll no doubt make it difficult, but I think a few ‘neutrals’ will disagree with his opening line.
Now to Michael Owen’s prediction on his Bet Victor Blog:
Michael Owen
“Liverpool have it all to do as they try and overturn a three-goal deficit from the 1st leg of their Champions League semi-final with Barcelona midweek, but they cannot get ahead of themselves and must win at St James’ Park on Saturday as they try and keep the pressure on Manchester City in the race for the PL title.
“The Reds were, arguably, unlucky not to find the back of the Barca net on at least one occasion midweek but they can’t afford to feel sorry for themselves. I expect Jurgen Klopp to have them fired up for the trip to a Newcastle side who did, of course, beat City 2-1 at home earlier on the season.
“The Magpies have only lost one of their last six home league games against the Reds and won’t go down without a fight, but I feel it would be fitting this season if the title race went right down to the wire.”
Owen’s prediction – Liverpool to win by more than one goal.
The final line from Owen won’t sit well with Liverpool fans, with them needing a win in this one to realistically keep their title hopes alive.
Finally, here’s what Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has had to say during his prediction piece for the BBC:
“We already know what Newcastle are like, and how difficult they make it when they face the top sides.
“When people talk about teams being organised, Newcastle are on that list and that is because they are a well-coached team and Benitez is an extremely good coach.
“It is as if every player on all of his teams has always known exactly what their role is, and what is expected of them.
“So this will be a tough game for Liverpool, because they will have to break Newcastle down.
“It might actually help that they lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, because it means they won’t have one eye on Tuesday’s second leg any more.
“It is not as if they got a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp and will be thinking ‘we’ve got a fantastic chance’.
“They will know they are outsiders in that tie now, and they have to focus fully on the Premier League, where any slip by Manchester City will let them in.”
Lawro’s prediction – Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
So, all three expect fairly comfortable Liverpool wins but do acknowledge the fact they’ll be coming up against a stubborn Rafa Benitez side that won’t make it easy for them.
There’s a feeling here that Jurgen Klopp’s side deserve to go into the final weekend of the season still in with a shout of lifting the title. This may be true, but Rafa Benitez may have something to say about that on what could be his final home game at St James’ Park.
