Match Preview // Newcastle (h)

Liverpool v Newcastle.. Monday 1st January 20:00 BST

This game is renowned for goals and comebacks. Normally from ourselves of course. With Newcastle on a terrible run of form and leaking goals surely this won't be the case this time. Well.. You wouldn't rule it out..

For all the bad results for long spells Newcastle have looked the better team and played ok. Mistakes have proved costly as has the injury to the keeper Pope. In many of these defeats they have scored. Normally first and then got hit on counter attacks. Or shot themselves in the foot in defence.

European football may well have taken a toll on the Geordies and strength in depth is a concern. They do have a good forward line where in reality only Isak would feature if they added quality to that department. While midfield is not that strong and defensively they look shambolic.

The Reds have been very good of late. We sit top of the league in terms of games played at the half way stage (maybe not quite on new years day. Results pending..).. VAR and the powers that be have tried to screw us over time and again. It is farcical and for want of a better word CORUPT.

With penalties turned away against United & Arsenal. Plus the disallowed goals against Burnley. Gakpo's for sure was a bad mistake. Young Harvey's. Yes Mo was offside.. But he was pushed out of position. Cool.. All this on the back of numerous other bad decisions. Watch the video below..

How we are top of the league is a testament of the new group of mentality monsters in the making. In reality the only fair results are Luton & City away in terms of decisions and performance that we haven't won. Thankfully we could turn some around. Yet there are a few draws in that dodgy decision list that could cost us..

Quick Stat Check.. Liverpool have Won 4 & Drawn 2 of their last 6.. Scoring 11 and Conceding 5. Newcastle have Won 2 & Lost 4. Scoring 6 & Shipping 11 in that time.. Almost exact opposites.. Liverpool haven't lost a league game against Newcastle at home since 1994.

Liverpool and VAR / Officiating - 23/24

Corruption.

pic.twitter.com/x0fXEMVd4Y

— CF Comps (@CF_Compss) December 28, 2023

Liverpool Team News

In Salah's last game before he heads off to the AFCON things are looking a little bit better for The Reds. Jota obviously returned in style against Burnley & Mac Allister could be back for this one with a late fitness test on the cards. Thiago should be back late January and so could Robbo & Bajcetic. Maybe Feb.. Tsimikas & Matip are both set to be out for the season. Kostas may just make it back.

Liverpool Line Up

Ali, Trent, Virg, Konate, Gomez, Szoboszlai, Endo, A Mac, Gakpo, Nunez, Mo

Newcastle Team News

When strength in depth is a concern you don't want 9 players on the injury list. Tonali, Pope, Murphy, Barnes, Lascelles, Willock, Anderson, Manquillo & Targett all sit this one out.

Newcastle Line Up

Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Isak, Almiron, Gordon

So for all their injuries and lack of form the Newcastle starting 11 is pretty strong. Featuring a lot of the players that got them into the Champions League this season. Isak is a threat & Callum Wilson can cause you some trouble. Still the keeper is shaky and this 11 hasn't really had a rest..

THE GAME

Once again the Anfield Lights are on which can make the dullest of games ignite. Throw Newcastle into the mix and you just anticipate fireworks.. This Liverpool side are very different to the one Klopp initially built. More technical from midfield and patient.

Gone are the days of full throttle football. Although there are signs of it every now and then. Yet it's more of possession based juggernaut this time around. Especially on the road. Burnley last time out was a fine example. Long spells of keeping the ball and pouncing when ready.

The players still need to gel into this mould and more so the forwards. In particular the wingers. They need to be able to keep possession better when attacking the full backs and be more clinical with deliveries and finishing.

The midfield is where near on every game is won and lost. A Mac has been a huge miss and with his return takes ours into another dimension and we will look to dominate this early winning the battles and supplying the ammo.

It's frightening when you think the more potent threat comes from behind our forward line right now. For other teams anyway. They'll be scared stiff when the front 3 click. Not that they aren't scoring but they hold the key to this Liverpool side flying and blowing anything away in their path.

PREDICTION.. 3-0 To Them Mighty Reds..

With the return of Mac Allister if he starts this should solidify an already solid Liverpool side. Newcastle could score and they will turn up and give us a game but we look strong at home. Once again the first goal is vital.

As we discussed the midfield will be strong and there will be long range efforts raining in at the Newcastle goal. Set pieces either way are once again a threat with Trent & Trippier on them things should get interesting.

Mo will look to leave for AFCON on the back of a confident showing. He's due a goal or an assist. Maybe we finally get the penalty we haven't been given in recent weeks.

So a dominant reds performance. Well on the front foot. Pressing early in search of a very quick start. Let's hope by the end we are talking about the football and not the referees as this game is usually a great highlight for the Premier League.

Nunez could well be chomping at the bit if he gets the nod to start after his heroics at St James..

OurLFC Dangerman..

Trent.. Again you cannot look anywhere else for the stand out player on the pitch. Virg has been in great form and Mo will be a threat here. Yet Trent is slowly dominating everything as he gets used to the midfield based role.

Set pieces be it corners or more dangerously free kicks will be a threat once more. But they will be fearful of Trent on the ball as he can lay on a goal in an instant and smash one in from distance given half a chance..

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