Liverpool take on Newcastle United on Boxing Day and the Magpies might just have an outside chance of winning this game.
No, we are not basing our assumptions on Newcastle’s form but on the fact that Liverpool will be making a number of changes to their first XI.
The Reds have an all-important game next weekend against Arsenal and Jurgen Klopp will name his lineup on Boxing Day keeping this game in mind.
Klopp is expected to rest the likes of Alexander Arnold, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino which gives Newcastle an outside chance of picking up atleast a point from the fixture.
But football pundit Paul Merson believes that this change will in no ways affect the outcome of the game and that the Toons will still play ultra-defensive football.
“I watched Newcastle against Fulham,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“They never looked like scoring in a month of Sundays and they were playing against the worst defence in the world!
“So this would be the biggest shock of the season if they won here.
“Newcastle will defend for so long, but then it will not be enough.
“Prediction is Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0.”
Liverpool have opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table after Man City suffered a shock defeat against Palace on Saturday and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to keep that distance by beating Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Newcastle United, on the other hand, are currently just three points off the relegation zone and a loss will push them even closer towards a drop to the Championship.
Read: Jurgen Klopp names ‘the’ one Newcastle player who could be a cause of concern for Liverpool on Boxing Day.
Read: Liverpool have two injury boosts before their clash vs Newcastle but will Klopp risk them before the Arsenal game?
Read: Arsenal defender could be ruled out for the Liverpool clash this weekend.
