Newcastle’s relentless January schedule continues, as we go from a Champions League decider in Paris to a trip to Anfield this weekend.
Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at PSG was a victory in so many ways. Howe got it bang on with his approach, selection and change in formation, the team were organised, committed and created plenty of chances to win it, while so many individuals stepped up, whether it be squad players delivering (Joe Willock), summer signings stepping up (Jacob Ramsey), key men returning (Dan Burn) or star players continuing their strong run of form, with Sven Botman, Lewis Miley and Sandro Tonali all excellent.
It was a night of positives and progress, but it’s vital we take that into our latest test away from home comforts, especially when our poor form on the road has often been our undoing in the Premier League this season.
The question is, will Howe stick with a back five? Have we got the energy to go again? Can we show the same heart, resilience and attacking intent at Anfield after struggling to impose ourselves on the road domestically?
Liverpool are in a funny patch of form. They’ve only lost 1 of their last 15 in all competitions, excelling in the Champions League and beating Qarabag 6-0 on Wednesday. Yet, in the league, they lost 3-2 to Bournemouth last weekend and have drawn their previous four against Burnley (1-1), Arsenal (0-0), Fulham (2-2) and Leeds (0-0).
Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Howe had this to say on the trip to Liverpool and Bruno’s chances of returning:
“For us it’s about making sure we perform in every game, regardless of where we play. It’s a great fixture. Historically, it’s been a great fixture. We want to try and do that justice by being the best we can.”
“It’s slightly unknown at the moment (if Bruno can start). He did really well to be with us in Paris – that was down to the fact he was desperate to support the players.
“He did very, very light training. He trained with us yesterday but that was more of a test so we’ll see how he is today. This will be where we decide (for tomorrow).”
Team news
Bruno Guimaraes (ankle) will be assessed, but Joelinton is out once again alongside Fabian Schar, Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth and Jamaal Lascelles.
Jacob Murphy and Will Osula have trained, although it sounds like they’ll be managed carefully after only recently returning to full sessions.
For Liverpool, Konate could return following a bereavement, but Isak, Frimpong and Bradley will all miss out.
Predicted XI
(3-4-3): Pope – Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Miley, Bruno, Ramsey, Hall – Barnes, Wissa, Gordon.
OUT: Tonali, Willock, Elanga, Woltemade.
IN: Bruno, Barnes, Gordon, Wissa.
Tonali has started our last four games and may need a game off, so I could see Bruno returning to our midfield, Ramsey given another chance to impress with his running power and big changes to our front three, seeing the rested trio of Gordon, Barnes and Wissa come back into our attack.
Match prediction
If we play anything like we did for the last 70 minutes on Wednesday, we’ll cause Liverpool real problems at both ends of the pitch.
The issue is, while we were giving our all until the very last minute to find a way past PSG, Liverpool were strolling to a 6-0 win over Qarabag; our play-off opponents!
Hopefully fatigue does not play a part and we can build on that confidence-boosting display in midweek, with the onus also on Howe to stick by that bold approach that certainly paid dividends in Paris.
Expecting goals, plenty end-to-end action and Newcastle to pick up another point on the road.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
If Joelinton & Bruno had been available I doubt Howe would have changed formation.
These changes he makes just like Joelinton’s move to midfield v Norwich was due to necessity rather than design or any tactical genius imo.
I believe Liverpool are there for the taking If our forwards can get their act together.
HWTL!
Joseph(Quote)
Joseph Don’t whatever you do give Eddie Howe any credit!
nutmag(Quote)
I’m always nervous playing Liverpool at anfield. I don’t think we’ve won there since Kevin keegan was manager and Cole scored the winner. I’m going to stick my neck out and say our lucks got to change sometime.
Terry(Quote)
Nutmeg :-
What credit does Howe deserve exactly in terms of trying something different considering our diabolical away form and the difficulties we have playing against a low block at home?
I am not saying he isn’t a decent manager, but for us to get to the next level he has to be more tactically astute and be prepared to take risks.
Joseph(Quote)
ime withNUTMEG on this one 100%
icedog(Quote)
It will be a very difficult match, as it always is at Anfield. We may well go with the same formation that we used against PSG as Eddie has used this several times against top sides, contrary to some comments on here, he has not always gone 433. We usually seem to pick things up against teams like Liverpool. I hope we can get something from this one, I’ll take a draw. We often end up on the wrong side a referee shenanigans against Liverpool and this ref is the one that ended the match while we were in mid attack with 3 on 2 a few years ago. Dreadful biased ref! 🤷🏻♂️. Let’s see.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Well, that’s a very strange team lineup! 😬😳
Gordon as striker? Or Elanga? 🤷🏻♂️. Botman dropped, Miley dropped … front three is Barnes, Gordon and Elanga. Well I guess we have to trust Eddie! I see a battering coming though. All three strikers on the bench. Oh dear. Let’s see.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I suspect it will be 3-0 to Liverpool 😬😬😬🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Injuries starting to bite
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s a punch in the guts for West Ham leading 0.2 now losing .
kimtoon(Quote)
So the super balanced and neutral pundit team of Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman. Well that’s balanced isn’t it? 😡😡😡😡😡😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
You surely didn’t expect any different did you .
kimtoon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
Bright enough start
kimtoon(Quote)
Gordon on a tightrope now
kimtoon(Quote)
off the bloody post
kimtoon(Quote)
Should be capitalising on being on top
kimtoon(Quote)
Hope Thaiw ok
kimtoon(Quote)
Booooooom Gordon!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
GetinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnGordon
kimtoon(Quote)
Deserved lead
kimtoon(Quote)
We need to keep pressing them
kimtoon(Quote)
They will likely be better second half so we need to try and get a second before half time.
kimtoon(Quote)
ffs
kimtoon(Quote)
Had to be him as well
kimtoon(Quote)
**** me jammy gits, him again
kimtoon(Quote)
I give up
kimtoon(Quote)
This isn’t on Eddie, it’s just totally switching off by players and getting punished.
kimtoon(Quote)
They are nothing without Ekitike
kimtoon(Quote)
Good overall performance but the lack of cover from our central midfield when Liverpool have the ball is killing us. Very similar to PSG in the first 20 mins of that game.
Ekitiki – the one that got away 😞
Howe the toon(Quote)
Craaaap! Always against Liverpool! This ref likes giving us yellows but none for Liverpool 😡 mind you, Gordon was stupid for his! Excellent first half apart from giving away the goals. Ekitike is some player mind!
What will Eddie do now?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
You wouldn’t want to change it too much. I would replace tripps with Miley. And then assign one of the central midfielders (Tonali) a holding role. Ramsey hasn’t been great – but no obvious options to replace him if Miley goes left back.
Howe the toon(Quote)
Our final ball is not good, need to be far more accurate.
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh dear the hoodoo at Anfield continues
kimtoon(Quote)
All over us now
kimtoon(Quote)
Deary me, we were so good first half and here we are 4.1 down
Deeply disappointing .
kimtoon(Quote)
I’m lost for fuuucking words 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Pope 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I’m so sick of losing to f’ing Liverpool. 🤬🤬🤬🤬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Thankfully an immaterial mistake from Pope. Scoreline didn’t reflect the game.
I liked Gordon upfront. Wolte and Wissa offered nothing in comparison.
Howe the toon(Quote)
Message to Nutmag and Icedog, the Howe Defenders!
Called this game almost perfectly from the blog 4-3-3 headline. GIVE IT A READ.
Can’t understand why people defend Howe using this formation away from home.
He stumbles across good tactics or the changes are forced upon him.
How many times does this have to happen before the penny drops🤮
We need a good tactical coach and urgently.
Joseph(Quote)
Give it a rest mate, we just lost.
kimtoon(Quote)
God you sound like Farage. Moan moan moan and no positive suggestions or recognition of the problems the club face. perhaps if you took up coaching and demonstrated some talent somebody might listen to you.
PremAndUp(Quote)