PL: Newcastle v Liverpool

Newcastle v Liverpool: Saturday 18 Feb, 2023. KO 17:30 BST

BIG 3 POINTS

Liverpool head up to the North East for a huge game in our Premier League season.. After semi-getting back on track in the Merseyside Derby in what was a great 2-0 victory against The Toffees.. This should be a tougher task and a must win if we want to gain top 4 and that Champions League holy grail..

The game at Anfield was a cracker and a fairly close run affair as I'm sure everybody remembers.. They looked impressive on the counter attack and not so impressive in defence.. We looked good in attack and not so impressive in defence and that Carvalho goal will go down in Anfield folklore..

QUICK STAT CHECK: Newcastle have won 3 & drawn 3 of their last 6 games.. Drawing twice in their last 2 against West Ham at home and Bournemouth away.. Both finishing 1-1.. Our form was pretty shocking until the win at home to Everton 2-0.. Liverpool have come out winners in the last 3 meetings and haven't lost at Newcastle for 7 years..

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

The Reds welcomed back Virg, Jota& Bobby last time out.. With the latter gaining some minutes from the bench later in the match.. Injury wise.. Leaving Arthur, Konate, Diaz, Thiago & Ramsay in the treatment room.. 

Diaz has started light training and running which is great news.. Calvin Ramsay looks likely to be out for the season after undergoing surgery on a knee problem. Konate & Arthur could be back in a week or two..

NEWCASTLE

Newcastle have quite a few injury problems although a few could well be fit in Time for the match.. Defo out are Guimaraes through suspension.. Manquilo, Willock, Targett, & Krafth with various injuries.. There will be late fitness tests on Wilson, Lascelles, Almiron & Saint-Maximin..

The Geordies have been in fine form all season and sit snuggly in the top 4.. 10 points off the leaders.. People will bring up the fact they are seriously wealthy yet this team barring a few signings has been there quite a while.. You get the feeling they all want to stick around as they have seriously raised their games..

Defensively they are set up very strong.. The midfield too is strong and the forward line will be once they start playing Isak & Saint-Maximin regular. Both have a really good pedigree.. The trouble they have is what all teams on the up have.. They struggle with consistency and beating the lesser teams so to speak.. We've been there..

This game though will be a great test for both..

DANGERMAN

There are quite a few to choose from.. Almiron & Saint-Max look good.. Yet Isak looks a real find and can cause serious problems if not contained properly..

LIVERPOOL TEAM

Ali, Trent, Virg, Matip, Robbo, Fabs, Hendo, Bajcetic, Nunez, Gakpo, Mo

THE GAME

This has the makings of another great game between the two teams and there has been quite a few over the years.. Newcastle will come out at us fast.. Buoyed on by their crowd they will snap into tackles and try and hit us early.. You'd expect nothing less..

So job number one is to keep things tight for the first 20.. Possession will be key and there will be spaces to get in behind them in that time but lets not go crazy in the numbers piling forward.. If we can do that then we will be nicely set..

We have a much stronger looking midfield now if Jurgen sticks with it.. He should do.. Which again is needed in tough away games like this.. Protecting the defence and assisting the front 3.. Hendo and Bajcetic wide of a sitting Fabs looks solid..

You would expect goals from both sides with the amount of attacking talent on the pitch. Although if Virg does come back into the starting 11 our defence looks stronger on paper.. This isn't gonna be easy and our away form this season needs to be addressed.. So a nice solid set up.. Patience, Possession and take our chances when we get them..

PREDICTION

Similar to the game at Anfield 2-1 to the reds..

OUR DANGERMAN

Trent AA.. Our front three will always be a threat.. Bajcetic is starting to look one from midfield but in a game like this set pieces and quality deliveries are so vital.. 

Robbo will chip in from the left but Trent has started to look really sharp again in attack.. With a bit of confidence from the win Monday night he can provide the ammo for the strikers and be a threat from free kicks and corners.. 

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