Liverpool finally got back to winning ways by beating Everton on Monday night but next up, they have another stern challenge in the form of Newcastle United.
Klopp’s men had a regulation win in the Merseyside Derby but they will have to move up a gear because Eddie Howe has totally turned around this Magpies side. Newcastle are undefeated in their last 17 matches in the Premier League and if Liverpool are not cautious then they can very easily slump to another defeat.
The win on Monday pushed Liverpool back into the top half of the league table but they are still only ninth – nine points behind Newcastle United. This is not where a team like Liverpool should be which is why the players need to pull up their socks and at least try and fight for a top-four spot.
After Saturday’s game, Liverpool will be back in the Champions League where they take on Real Madrid and Jurgen Klopp will definitely have one eye on that match. The manager will love to rest some of his regular starters but the current injury list will stop him from doing that.
The Reds are undefeated in their previous three meetings with Newcastle United but unlike the Everton game, we expect this weekend’s tie to be a much closer one.
Liverpool’s team news and injuries:
Van Dijk was back on the bench against Everton and this was a big boost for the manager. We doubt if he will come back into the starting line up in the weekend because Klopp will want to protect him for the Real Madrid tie.
Ibrahima Konate is still out injured so the Liverpool boss will have to be very cautious in bringing Van Dijk back into the fold.
Thiago has a hip injury and he will be out for some time meaning Fabinho will hold onto his place. Klopp has been using 18-year-old Bajcetic in midfield but James Milner or Naby Keita should come into the starting XI on Saturday.
Diogo Jota and Firmino both returned from injuries and got some game time on Monday and there’s a chance that one of them could come into the side.
Neither of them will be match-fit enough to start against Real Madrid so the Liverpool boss will most likely rest Nunez or Gakpo this weekend to keep them fresh and fit for the UCL tie.
Jota and Bobby Firmino’s return is a major boost for the manager because the attacking area has been massively diminished for Liverpool in recent weeks.
Both Salah and Gakpo found the back of the next vs Everton which is also a major plus before the crucial tie against Real Madrid. We think both of them will start vs the Magpies while Nunez will move to the bench.
Liverpool predicted line up vs Newcastle United:
Predicted Starting XI(4-3-3): Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold; Fabinho, Milner/Keita, Henderson; Jota/Nunez, Gakpo/Firmino, Salah.
Stats via Fotmob.
