The pundits have been sharing their thoughts ahead of tonight’s big Premier League match at Anfield between Liverpool and Newcastle United
Paul Merson and Chris Sutton both believe Liverpool will beat Newcastle United 2-1
It’s a big game at Anfield tonight as Liverpool play host to Newcastle United (8pm kick-off). Win and the Reds will climb above bitter rivals Manchester United into the top four or top five depending on the outcome of Chelsea’s home clash with West Ham United earlier on in the evening (5.30pm kick-off).
But defeat would leave the Reds level on points with Newcastle and it would increase the threat of the defending Premier League champions missing out on Champions League football altogether next season.
Now there’s a still long way to go in the campaign – and even if the Reds failed to finish in the Champions League places, you would not put it past them to qualify for the competition by actually winning it – but there’s no question this evening’s match, and next weekend’s visit of Manchester City to Anfield, are hugely important to Arne Slot and his players.
OPINION
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So how do the pundits see it going?
Paul Merson
The Arsenal legend, a two-time title winner, wrote in his Sportskeeda column: “You don’t know what you’re going to get with Liverpool! It’s really weird what’s happening with them. They spent all that money and can’t keep a clean sheet in the league!
“We were sitting here at the start of the season, and when Liverpool bought Alexander Isak, we thought they will run away with the league title. It’s quite interesting how it has not panned out that way. If Liverpool fail to finish in the top four, I think Arne Slot will be gone.
“Newcastle shock me with how bad they are in away games, but they did well on the road against PSG in the Champions League. I expect Bruno Guimaraes to start this game. This is a hugely important game for Newcastle and they need him in midfield.
“Liverpool have had a lot of injury problems this season. I don’t understand why they did not go all in for Marc Guehi. They needed a centre-back so bad and they let (Manchester) City sign him. Now it’s starting to look like Liverpool haven’t bought well at all.
“After the injury to Jeremie Frimpong, I expect Dominik Szoboszlai to play right-back in this game. Newcastle have strong wide players like Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga. So I don’t think Liverpool will use Wataru Endo like they did against Qarabag.
“Szoboszlai is the best available choice at right-back because he has done quite well playing there. But Liverpool haven’t been as dominant as they have been in midfield this season. If you take Szoboszlai out of that midfield, you have another big gap to fill there.
“I’m backing Liverpool to win here, but I’m not really sure why! Maybe because they are playing at home. I honestly can’t think of anything else.”
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United
Chris Sutton
The 1995 Blackburn Rovers title-winning hero wrote in his BBC Sport column: “I was in Paris to watch Newcastle for 5 Live on Wednesday. They made loads of changes and started badly but they could have won it in the end.
“They showed a graphic on Match of the Day on Sunday which underlined how important Bruno Guimaraes is to Newcastle, because basically they don’t win when he is not playing.
“Eddie Howe did not risk his captain against Paris St-Germain and will be hoping he is fit enough to start at Anfield but, even if he is, I still fancy Liverpool here.
“Liverpool walloped Qarabag in midweek, but one of their issues this season has been following up good wins like that in Europe with a similar result in the league the following weekend.
“I don’t really trust Arne Slot’s side to turn up this time either but Newcastle’s poor away form should help them here – and the Magpies’ record at Anfield in the past 30 years is pretty abysmal.”
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United
Alan Shearer
The Newcastle legend, who won the title at Blackburn with Sutton 31 years ago, wrote in his Betfair column: “It is a huge game for both clubs. Newcastle have to try and put them under as much pressure as possible. I guess there’ll be a little bit of feeling spilled over from the north east side, albeit Isak isn’t going to be involved at all.
“Both teams had decent results in midweek. Liverpool winning by six, Newcastle going to PSG and getting a draw. With Newcastle’s away form, it doesn’t fill me with great confidence. But if they can have the same attitude and play very much like they did against PSG, whether Eddie Howe changes the system or not, again, I’ll have to wait and see.
“Newcastle playing away to PSG on Wednesday could have a bigger effect on them than Liverpool playing at home, but what I would say is Eddie Howe did change a lot of personnel around. He left Bruno (Guimaraes) out because of a knock. He brought in (Jacob) Ramsey and (Joe) Willock. He left out (Harvey) Barnes and (Anthony) Gordon so he will be able to shift it around a little bit if he feels he needs to.
“But in terms of an away game in France on Wednesday and the travel that goes with it. Getting back and Liverpool being at home. That would only suit Liverpool rather than Newcastle but the teams in the Champions League are used to that now.
“On the flip side, Liverpool have defensive issues, they’ve got injuries and they’ve been really poor defensively both in general play and from set pieces. So, Newcastle have to try and take advantage of that and with the pace of Newcastle and with Liverpool really suspect being hit on the counter-attack – that should suit Newcastle
Prediction: Draw