Our second home game of the new season and a chance to bounce back from last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Man City, as Eddie Howe’s Mags take on Liverpool this Sunday.
We’ve not beaten Liverpool in any of our last 13 games – our last win was in 2015 – but records are there to be broken. This is a different Newcastle United, a Liverpool side in transition and a team that will be desperate to get revenge on a Reds side who were lucky to beat us once – never mind twice – last season.
The away trip to Anfield was a VAR farce and we were the better side with 10 men when they came to Tyneside. They took an early 2-0 lead and Nick Pope’s red killed off all hopes of a comeback, yet we still caused them huge problems despite their man advantage.
A big atmosphere awaits and an early opportunity to get one over our top-four rivals who we beat to a place in the Champions League last season. Hopefully we can wipe that grin from Jurgen Klopp’s face, dominate their new-look midfield and make another statement.
Team news
Joelinton is “fine” despite limping off at Man City and Eddie Howe has issues a positive update on Joe Willock. He won’t be back until after the international break but is making “really good progress.”
Javier Manquillo returned to training on Friday following a groin problem, but Emil Krafth is still being eased back following his ACL injury last year.
For the Reds, Alexis Mac Allister is available after his three-game ban was rescinded and Trent Alexander-Arnold is OK. However, Ibrahima Konate is a “doubt”, while Thiago and Curtis Jones have been ruled out. New signing Wataru Endo could make his first Premier League start in midfield.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
We may have lost last weekend and didn’t really lay a glove on Man City, but I think Eddie Howe will stick with the same XI.
Barnes will be pushing Gordon, but the latter was very good at both ends of the pitch against Aston Villa; something he’ll need to be against Trent and Salah on Sunday. Isak was anonymous at City but caused Liverpool havoc last season, while Tonali’s place in the side can’t be under threat based on his five-star display against Villa.
At left-back, there’ll be some call for Lewis Hall to come straight in, but that’ll be an absolute non-starter for Howe. The 18-year-old has only had a few days training with his new teammates and won’t be thrown into the deep end just yet. Changes are possible, with Wilson, Barnes, Anderson and Longstaff all pushing for starts, I just think we’ll see Howe stand by the side that blew away Villa in our last home game.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson – Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister – Salah, Jota, Diaz.
One to watch: Dominik Szoboszlai – The tall attacking midfielder was heavily linked with Newcastle earlier in the summer and impressed in their 3-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend. It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on at both ends of the field. Will he be able to cope with our intensity? We shall see.
Prediction
I think this could be a good time to play Liverpool, who are still adjusting following three new midfield signings. For us, we often respond well to defeat and will be determined to get one over Jurgen Klopp’s Reds after they (somehow) beat us twice last season.
I’m backing our physicality and high-energy to come out on top. A fast start could be key and I think we’ll come out of the traps flying. Isak to score again and Gordon to get off the mark in an entertaining game on Tyneside.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool
HWTL!
Going to be a big game.
What a start to the season, Villa, City, Liverpool, Brighton and Brentford, are all top teams.
How many points? 10 points average two per game 4th or 5th but could be anything.
Hardest start of any team in the league.
Bring it on
HWTL
PremAndUp(Quote)
hate Klopp hope we dont give him a chance to gloat,its a tough one this Prem is right this is a hard start to the season just hope we can ride through it
icedog(Quote)
Are these fixture lists sorted randomly each season or “arranged” …? It’s amazing how much more difficult our start is to everyone else. That said, we still have to play them all, and I guess they have to worry about playing us!
I really hope we beat Liverpool tomorrow.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
There was an article on here saying that the fixture list benefitted us as by the time we get to playing European ties we have weaker opponents, so getting this start out of the way is no bad thing. We just have to win 4 out of 5.
PremAndUp(Quote)
On another point with Fraser to Soton that will be part of his £75kpw off the books, say £25k. Then if Lascelles goes to Turkey another £50kpw off the books then using the money from Lascelles as a downpayment on a RCB we can afford to get a good one paying a good Salary. Hopefully, it will happen this week.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Tough game. I’d love us to stuff them but think it’ll be a 1-1.
Stu was on a few months ago.
georgio(Quote)
No easy games in the PL ime afraid
Icedog(Quote)
Still Everton at SJP is not the same as Citeh at the Etihad
PremAndUp(Quote)
I see Manchester United still getting some very favourable decisions to ensure they win. 😳
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Not a nice start to the season I agree, but yeah we have to play them all. The only danger is if you lose more than you win out of the first 5 or 6 it puts you on the back foot and can sap confidence. Does seem a particularly rough start though for a random allocation ! Hmm, very odd.
Really hope we wipe the grin off Kloppity’s face
kimtoon(Quote)
Shef utd doing a grand job keeping city out so far, not sure how long they will hold out though.
kimtoon(Quote)
oops looks like I jinxed em
kimtoon(Quote)
Wow equalizer ! fair play
kimtoon(Quote)
normal service from city
kimtoon(Quote)
HWTL
Please beat this lot
kimtoon(Quote)
don’t tell me that’s not dodgy, how the hell is trent still on the pitch
kimtoon(Quote)
So now you watch klopp sub him before he gets a second yellow they can’t ignore
kimtoon(Quote)
just me here then
kimtoon(Quote)
get in Gordonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
god trents having a bad day isn’t he haha🤣
kimtoon(Quote)
he has to go no argument , it’s a clear red and that should be their second red too .
kimtoon(Quote)
Right, finish them now, do not waste this
kimtoon(Quote)
oh my what a save from miggy’s shot
kimtoon(Quote)
Take a look at some of the vile tweets from pool fans towards ref and it’s not hard to see why they are so hated.
https://twitter.com/search?q=%22John%20Brooks%22&src=trend_click&vertical=trends
kimtoon(Quote)
Wow, what a half. TAA absolutely should’ve gone there. Ref definitely bottled the second yellow. Great goal from Gordon mind! Clear red too for Van ****. Let’s hope we don’t blow it now.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gordon did TAA a favour by scoring actually as that shirt pull would’ve been another yellow
Gilly Toon(Quote)
jesus Miggy off the post 😒
kimtoon(Quote)
ffs, that was coming, we missed too many golden chances
kimtoon(Quote)
Fuming! Absolutely fucking fuming that we’ve thrown that away. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Last week was forgivable that was poor .. can’t get that monkey off our back with this lot
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Well I ventured out my Turkish hotel to go and watch it at a nearby sports bar – only Geordie in a bar full of mouthy scousers.
You can imagine how much **** I was getting & was ready to knock out out for the **** he was giving my son – who doesn’t even like football.
Fortunately he removed himself at half time.
The rest stayed til full time sadly.
I don’t understand subbing Gordon & Isak just to keep Barnes & Wilson happy!!. Gordon in particular was destroying TTA!!.
They were fortunate with the first getting passed Botman – but we didn’t learn from it.
Bruno might not like it but he was sloppy AGAIN tonight!!.
Crushed!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I HATE Klopp
Icedog(Quote)
Our midfield threw that away with sloppy play. Unforgivable
Gilly Toon(Quote)
And this site is doing my fucking head in. When is it going to get fixed. Same issue time after time. Missing comments, missing details, other people’s details… Jesus man
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Right I’ve calmed down a bit now, where to start
nope still angry
kimtoon(Quote)