Newcastle United have climbed up the Premier League standings with successive wins over Burnley and West Ham. The Magpies are now 8 points clear of the drop zone and their recent run must have put Liverpool under pressure ahead of hosting them at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds conceded late goal against Leeds United to settle for a 1-1 draw at Elland Road amid the Super League mayhem. A ‘top four’ finish is essential to retain the elite European status and the 2019-20 English champions must uplift the show with the reverse tie ending in stalemate at St. James’ Park.
Steve Bruce, as always, would travel for a point and the Merseysiders, having failed to break down the deep defending sides, must find the winning goal in order to stay in the hunt for the Champions League berth.
Predicted 5-3-2 Newcastle United Lineup To Face Liverpool
Defence
Karl Darlow had a great shift between the sticks in the absence of Martin Dúbravka (including the first-leg fixture). But the Slovak custodian is now back in action and has regained his ‘number 1’ status replacing the Englishman.
The Magpies have quite a few key injury absentees in the heart of the backline. Skipper Jamaal Lascelles is ruled out along with Fabian Schar, and the pressure would be immense on Federico Fernandez, Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett in deep defence against the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
Bruce has deployed wingers in deeper roles to operate as fullbacks and should stick with Jacob Murphy and Matt Ritchie down the wide due to their ability to tweak the set-up and cause attacking menace if required. Emil Krafth, Javier Manquillo and Jamal Lewis would be there among the substitutes and might get introduced to frustrate the hosts late into the contest.
Midfield
Although Isaac Hayden is ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, the Toon Army have ample options in the middle of the park. Ex-Reds star Jonjo Shelvey should anchor the game from his central role, whereas the work ethics of Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almirón is likely to trouble Jurgen Klopp’s juggernaut against the run. Joe Willock (on loan from Arsenal) has made an impression as a ‘super sub’, particularly after finding the winning goal last weekend against the ten-man Hammers.
Attack
The gaffer is sweating over the availability of star attacker Allan Saint-Maximin. The Frenchman has got a swollen ankle and might miss the trip unless he passes the late fitness test. Ryan Fraser is out too with a groin strain and the makeshift Reds’ defence might have to face Joelinton and Callum Wilson ahead of Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle.
