Newcastle United will travel to Merseyside to take on Liverpool on Wednesday afternoon looking to keep another clean sheet in the league. The Magpies will need to keep things tight at the back if they are to secure a result away from home this week.
Rafael Benitez has a terrific recent record as an opposition manager at Anfield so we can expect the unexpected on Boxing Day. However, it would take a monumental effort from his side to stop Jurgen Klopp’s team in front of their home supporters as only Manchester City have managed to claim a point from Anfield this season.
The Magpies will lineup in a 5-4-1 formation and Federico Fernandez is expected to complete his comeback from his recent injury and feature in Benitez’s starting XI in midweek.
5-4-1 Newcastle United Predicted Lineup To Face Liverpool
Defence
Martin Dúbravka is expected to retain his place in goal for the Magpies after keeping a clean sheet against Fulham last weekend. Newcastle might go for a back five to contain Liverpool’s fluid attack, so Benitez is expected to start with Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernández and Fabian Schär as central defenders. DeAndre Yedlin and Paul Dummett would take up the full-back roles down the wide areas.
Rafael Benitez’s side have kept back to back shutouts in their last two outings in the league so he would hope for another strong showing from his defenders at Anfield this week.
Midfield
The Magpies won’t have Jonjo Shelvey available for this encounter so the duo of Isaac Hayden and Mohamed Diamé will start as the holding midfielders. Kenedy will look to use his pace on the left flank while Matt Ritchie will act as a creator on the right side of the Newcastle midfield. All four of them will need to put in a tireless shift if they are to stop the Liverpool attackers from dominating possession in midfield.
Attack
Salomon Rondon will lead the lines for the Tyneside outfit up top. He will likely be an isolated figure on Wednesday, so when he does get the ball, Rondon will need to hold up play well and get his teammates involved in the opposition half.
