Liverpool (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction

Olly Hawkins

For all the frustrations that came with that 2-1 defeat at Anfield, perhaps it sparked what went on to be a stunning end to 2022 for Eddie Howe’s Mags.

Five and a half months later, it remains the only Premier League game we’ve lost all season, giving us a big opportunity to move well clear of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds on Saturday night.

Win and we’ll be TWELVE points ahead of Liverpool. Lose and they’ll be six behind us with a game in hand. After years of relegation six-pointers at St James’ Park, this could be a defining night in the top four race.

Not only that, it feels like a huge moment to build momentum ahead of next week’s Carabao Cup final. After a few flat displays, a few too many draws and an unconvincing display at Bournemouth last time out, this is a chance to get back to winning ways in our final home game before we head to Wembley.

Here’s what Howe had to say in his Friday morning presser ahead of the game:

“I wouldn’t say we owe Liverpool one. We owe ourselves to do our best in this game and to do everything in our power to try and win the match. I’m reluctant to use Liverpool as motivation for us – we shouldn’t need that. It should come from ourselves.

“Our only way an our only chance is to go for it (against Liverpool). You can’t play these games anything less than 100%. If you’ve got half an eye on the next game (Cup Final) you’re in trouble.”

Team news

Joe Willock (hamstring) is a doubt, Bruno Guimaraes remains banned and Callum Wilson is touch and go after missing the majority of training this week.

However, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron have been passed fit after both were forced off at Bournemouth, with Matt Targett close after returning to training this week.

For the visitors, Thiago, Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz have been ruled out, but Klopp has Virgil Van Dijk, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino available again after all three returned to the bench on Monday.

Predicted line ups

(4-2-3-1): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Joelinton – Almiron, Gordon, Saint-Maximin – Isak.

I can’t see Wilson starting when he only trained for the first time this week on Friday. We need him to be back to 100% and risk losing him for the final if he’s thrown in for this one.

Willock and Bruno’s absence leaves us light in midfield, so I’m expecting Gordon to start in more of a number 10 role ahead of Joelinton and Longstaff; who seem likely to take up deeper roles.

Saint-Maximin against Alexander-Arnold would be a risk-reward battle which would go either way, but Howe has vowed to give the Frenchman a run in the side. If he gets another start, let’s hope he gives the England international nightmares down our left.

Once again, I can’t see us making any changes at the back. With Mo Salah looking back at it against Everton and Burn having a stinker at Bournemouth, we’ll have to hope the big man is back at it for this one.

Prediction

Liverpool will be buoyed by a much improved performance on Monday, but they’re facing a Newcastle side with a formidable home record.

We’ll have to be much better than we were last weekend and must find a way to raise our game without the brilliant Bruno, however I can see the atmosphere lifting spirits and the players being determined to frustrate a side who got lucky at Anfield all those months ago

I’m expecting a very good game, a few goals and the game to end all square; a result that would benefit us more than the Reds.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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54 thoughts on “Liverpool (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction”

  1. A few typos Olly, but the best is “Virgin Van ****”… made me laugh!

    It will be a tough match. Just hope the officiating and VAR are better than they were last time. I think we can win it, but we have to go for it and have our shooting boots on.

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  5. RIP Christian, terrible way for him and the thousands of others to die. Sympathy to his family and friends.

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  9. Mark Douglas
    @MsiDouglas
    ·
    1h
    Christian Atsu set up a charity for abandoned, orphaned and trafficked children. He donated thousands of pounds to help destitute prisoners in Ghana, paid for their life-saving operations with little or no publicity. An excellent footballer but even better man. RIP.

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  16. Some good results for us. The pundits almost EXPECT Chelsea and Liverpool to pass us. A draw at minimum for us today will help. It is Spurs and Man U who we are challenging but the pundit pals all assume the future will be like the past.

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  18. It’s going to be a very tough game tonight. I hope we bring something a bit special tonight, for Sir Bobby, for Christian Atsu, for Eddie and for us!

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  28. Their heads have gone.

    Damage limitation now

    . will pope miss next week?? And if so isn’t dubravka cup tied

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  30. GoWest!Mag: Their heads have gone.

    Damage limitation now

    . will pope miss next week?? And if so isn’t dubravka cup tied

    Yes he played in cup games for Manure
    Oh the irony

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  32. Daft thing is it should have been us 2.0 up in the first 10mins – then could be watching a very different game.

    Difference in quality of the 2 squads & front 3 in particular.

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  33. Can’t understand what Pope was thinking trying to head that???

    That should have been booted into row Z that – mad decision!!!

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  34. Kim .. indeed.

    Feel sorry for Anderson who’s been let down by a senior team mate. I hope pope has decency to apologise to him

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  36. It could not have been worse. What a fucking sh.itstorm. Disaster… what the hell are they doing? VAR and ref are shocking too. Never a yellow for Miggy and there was an offside before that. 😡😡😡😡😡

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  41. Oh dear .. decent start but sloppy at the back and that fucking lot are too good not to take advantage of sloppy play

    A decent adrenaline driven response that speaks well of the mental strength in this team and could’ve scored but I fear that won’t last the 2nd half

    Howe needs to be careful cuz if Klopp shapes up to twist the knife in 2nd half this could get messy

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  42. I don’t know what’s happened to our back 5 but that solidity has completely gone since the return from the WC.

    I know the scores wouldn’t suggest that – but Pope has been MOTM for a lot of them (not today like).

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  43. Sharpy17: Daft thing is it should have been us 2.0 up in the first 10mins – then could be watching a very different game.

    Difference in quality of the 2 squads & front 3 in particular.

    Agreed.

    As difficult as this is to watch we can hope thus is a lesson to learn from and club make the necessary investment.

    as well as newcastle have performed this season the top teams have the quality when it comes to the pointy end .. and yes Liverpool are a top team despite their woes this season

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  45. Ooh .. That looked nasty .. did Nunez look back as he caught trippier

    And another couple of chances where Newcastle fail to hit the target

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  47. I know it’s early days for Isak & he’s probably getting back to full fitness – but is there much difference between him & Woods???

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  51. So many missed chances. We could’ve and should’ve at least got the draw. Our fire power has gone. Missing everything. Some golden chances missed … could well be down to fifth tomorrow, but I guess from another perspective, it’s only our second loss this season (in the league), and our first loss at home.

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  52. Pleasing it stayed at 2 after that terrible first 20 and newcastle didn’t drop heads.

    No controversy in any of those key var decisions.

    Hard to assess after they dug that hole to start and as Liverpool did sit back 2nd half. Hopefully newcastle not knacked for next week

    Differences are plain to see as are investment priorities but the last time I checked things still in Newcastles hands this season and I never did think Liverpool would be irrelevant to top four- six

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  53. Match stats very similar – even with only 10 men.

    Difference is the quality each manager has to call on.

    Feel for Anderson. Started but actually if he was a sub today he’d have probably got more game time.

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