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This week, the Reds earned the ire of fans across the globe by being a founding member of the Super League and lost out on precious two points against Leeds United late on. Jurgen Klopp’s side has a chance to set things right when they take on Newcastle United on the weekend.
Newcastle United will look to continue their good run of late when they take on Jurgen Klopp’s side. Their recent performances have put them just beyond the reach of relegation, and a win against Liverpool could help seal another year’s stay in the Premier League.
Champions Liverpool find themselves seventh in the league table with just six more matches left to play. The Reds have been ravaged by injury this season and ended up losing more points than desired in the middle of the season. As a result, they now face a fight to qualify for the Champions League next season. Chelsea, West Ham United, and Tottenham are all ahead of them in the league at the moment, albeit not by much. A win against Newcastle, coupled with favourable results elsewhere, could see them finish the weekend as high as fifth.
Furthermore, Liverpool come into the game on the back of some good performances. Despite drawing their last match against Leeds United, the Reds had won their previous three. They have managed to correct their home form of late, and the team even went through a period of defensive stability with two set centre-backs appearing in all matches.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United will visit Anfield on the back of two wins themselves. The Magpies have managed to distance themselves from 18th placed Fulham after a couple of good results. They are now favourites to stay up this season despite the threat of relegation looming large not that long ago.
Key Players
Much has been made of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inconsistent performances this season. The debate heated up last month when the Englishman was dropped from the international squad by Gareth Southgate. However, the young right-back has shown since then exactly why he is among the best at what he does. He scored Liverpool’s winner against Aston Villa recently and has been providing important assists regularly.
Mohamed Salah did not score against Leeds United, but he has been in fine form this season. The Egypt international is behind only Kane in the scoring charts as he looks to secure the golden boot for yet another season. He has scored 28 times across all competitions so far with 19 of those strikes coming in the league. He will hope to add to his tally when the Reds take on Newcastle this weekend.
Allan Saint-Maximin’s contribution in recent weeks might prove to be key in Newcastle’s survival in the Premier League. His match-winning performances against Burnley and West Ham United helped the Magpies move clear of the danger zone. The tricky winger can be a nuisance for defenders to deal with, as much was evident when he dribbled with the ball through the Burnley half and scored the winning goal in their match.
Callum Wilson might have feared being relegated two years in a row but those fears have since subsided. Newcastle are in a better position at the moment and are looking set for another year of Premier League football. : The Englishman will be key to that, provided he stays fit for an entire season. The striker, who joined Newcastle from Bournemouth in the summer, has scored ten times this season. He could have added more to his tally had he not been injured for large parts of the season.
Prediction
The current Liverpool side is not the same as the one which won the title a year ago. They are weak and vulnerable and have had to deal with several injuries throughout the season. Nevertheless, their recent performances will give their fans something to cheer about. Despite a draw against Leeds last weekend, the Reds were on track to secure a UCL spot for the upcoming season.
Newcastle themselves have been on a great run lately, but in Liverpool, they are facing a completely different kind of opponent. The Reds can hurt the Magpies with their quick attackers and will have to be dealt with expertly. Barring any miracles, Klopp’s side should be able to secure a win in this one.
