Newcastle United vs Liverpool. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats and more
Newcastle United FC will host Liverpool FC in the English Premier League 24th-tour match at St James’ Park Stadium. The fixture will take place on Saturday, February 18, beginning at 23:00 IST.
A couple of years ago, no one would have thought that Newcastle would approach the meeting against Liverpool as favorites, but in 2023, it is a reality. Jurgen Klopp’s men are having a dreadful campaign and they are now facing another tough test: a trip to staggering St James’ Park, where the Magpies have yet to lose this season.
The Merseysiders, meanwhile, have lost four of their five away matches in all competitions. Will the Reds be able to bounce back from this disappointing streak to find themselves in a good frame of mind for next week’s crucial UEFA Champions League clash against Real Madrid? Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.
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Newcastle United News & Current Form:
Eddie Howe’s side are having arguably their best season since legendary striker Alan Shearer played for the team. The Magpies are in fourth place and have not suffered a defeat in 23 games, not counting the loss to Sheffield Wednesday FC in the Emirates FA Cup. The last time in the championship Newcastle lost was to Liverpool on September 1.
Newcastle is the most peaceful team in the Premier League. They have drawn 11 meetings. There were games with Chelsea FC (1-0) and Tottenham Hotspur FC (2-1), and draws with the division leaders Manchester United FC and Arsenal FC (both 0-0).
In the last six games, both factors came together: Newcastle drew five times, three times – 0-0, and in the other games conceded only twice. The team’s top scorer, Miguel Almiron, had a great first half of the season, but after the FIFA World Cup break he lost his form, scoring just one goal.
Despite the fact that Newcastle for the second time in the season struck the virus of world outcomes, the team remains in fourth place, that is, in the UEFA Champions League zone, and also with a very huge margin is the lowest conceded in the EPL. For 22 rounds the Black and Whites scored only 13 times, that is 0.5 goals per game. Arsenal, who goes second in this indicator (and in the standings now, too), at a similar distance got 21 goals in his goal.
Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin, Joe Willock, Matt Targett, Javier Manquillo, Emil Krafth and Bruno Guimaraes, who is suspended, will not be able to play today.
“We haven’t seen him yet and think he’ll be doubtful for tomorrow’s game. I don’t think it’s a big injury at all, a very minor complaint with his hamstring, so we hope to get him back very quickly,”
said coach Howe about Joe Willock.
“Callum’s done really well. It was a very minor complaint for him. He hasn’t trained yet and we hope he trains today and that he’s in contention. Targett has made a welcomed return to training. First steps for him, but good signs that he is nearing coming back.”
Liverpool News & Current Form:
In the last round, Liverpool halted the unpleasant streak and managed to beat Everton FC (2-0) in the Merseyside derby. Cody Gakpo scored his debut goal, and Mohamed Salah slightly corrected the arid personal statistics of the season. He has only 8+4 in the league, with only one goal in 2023.
Many believe that Jurgen Klopp’s side can realistically salvage a place in the league’s top four this season, meaning that they will be determined to close the gap to Newcastle to nine points, given the positive statistics against the Magpies in face-to-face meetings.
The victory over Everton coincided with the return to form of Merseyside’s Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk. Jota came on as a substitute midway through the second half and did not have a productive performance or a sharp pass. Firmino, meanwhile, played the final ten minutes and provided one clearance. Reds captain van Dijk was kept out for the game but will be ready for the game against the Black and Whites.
Moreover, at St. James Park, today’s visitors have not lost six games in a row. Otherwise, the Reds could face their fourth consecutive Premier League away defeat for the first time since April 2012, culminating then in a 0-2 defeat to Newcastle. Before this round, the Merseysideiders have nine wins and five draws, corresponding to 32 points and ninth position in the standings. Very weak for such a selection of players looks the attacking line, which differed only 36 times.
The Reds have a difficult period ahead and Klopp needs to allocate resources to two top contenders in a row: after the match against Newcastle his team is waiting for Real Madrid CF in the Champions League 1/8 on February 21.
The team’s sore throat has become emptier, with only midfielder Artur Melo, defender Imbrahima Konate, forward Luis Diaz and Thiago Alcantara not playing for a long time. Compared to the staffing challenges Klopp faced a month or two ago, these are negligible losses.
Newcastle United form guide: W-D-W-W-D-D
Liverpool form guide: L-W-D-L-L-W
Newcastle United vs Liverpool Head-To-Head Record:
| Newcastle United | Draw | Liverpool |
| 50 | 44 | 90 |
- July 26, 2020: Newcastle United 1 – 3 Liverpool (Premier League);
- December 30, 2020: Newcastle United 0 – 0 (Premier League);
- April 24, 2021: Liverpool 1 – 1 Newcastle United (Premier League);
- December 16, 2021: Liverpool 3 – 1 Newcastle United (Premier League);
- April 30, 2022: Newcastle United 0 – 1 (Premier League);
- August 31, 2022: Liverpool 2 – 1 Newcastle United (Premier League).
Newcastle United vs Liverpool Predicted XI:
Newcastle United possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Almiron, Longstaff, Joelinton; Saint-Maximin, Isak, Gordon.
Liverpool possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.
Statistical preview of Newcastle United vs Liverpool:
- Newcastle’s First XI average age is 27.3 yrs.
- Liverpool’s First XI average age is 27.2 yrs.
- Liverpool have won their last 3 face-offs against this opponent.
- Newcastle are unbeaten in their 7 last games in all tournaments.
- Liverpool have lost their last 3 away games in the Premier League.
- Liverpool are scoring an average of 0.80 goals per game in their last 5 games.
- Newcastle are scoring an average of 1.00 goals per game in their last 5 games.
- In the last 5 games Newcastle conceded an average of 0.60 goals per game.
- Liverpool conceded an average of 1.00 goals per game in the last 5 games.
- Liverpool are scoring in their last 4 games against this opponent.
- Newcastle scored 35 goals and conceded 13 goals in 22 EPL games, while for Liverpool the stats are – 36 scored, 28 conceded.
- Howe’s team suffered only one defeat.
- Newcastle drew in 11 games in the EPL – the most in the league.
What has been said before the match:
Coach of Newcastle United Eddie Howe ahead of the Saturday game:
“I wouldn’t say we owe Liverpool one. We owe ourselves to do our best in this game and do everything in our power to try and win the match. I’m reluctant to use Liverpool as motivation for us. We shouldn’t need that. It should come from ourselves, our league position, and our needs and wants to have a successful season.”
“We look at our opponent and look at what we need to be competitive in this game. We’ll always try to make the right tactical decisions based on our opponents and ourselves. First and foremost we have to look internally. It’s something we think long and hard about.”
About teams’ results at their home stadium:
“It’s been pivotal. We’ve enjoyed playing at home. I think, lately, we’ve been a bit frustrated as we’ve wanted more goals and clear cut chances. Teams have defended well against us with a clear plan and it’s up to us to find solutions.”
Jurgen Clopp, coach of Liverpool, commented the upcoming fixture:
“It’s a massive game. If we want to reach something this season, we have to chase everybody and especially the teams ahead of us in the table.”
“It’s not easy, it will never be easy, but the only way you can do it is give it a try and that’s what we have to do. It’s a tough one, Newcastle, best defense in the league, lost only once I heard now, didn’t even know that.”
“It was against us and we needed a late, late goal. So obviously they’re very, very consistent, which is always the first step to success.”
“After the World Cup we won two games but we were not overly happy with the way we played, so you cannot really build on it. This time it was different. It looked like us.”
“People said after the game that Everton didn’t do this or that as much as they did against Arsenal. I really think it was because we did particularly well. That’s a point to prove again tomorrow.”
Newcastle United vs Liverpool Prediction:
Newcastle looks like the favorite for the game. Howe’s side is more stable, with a strong attacking performance and some of the most reliable defensive football in the league. In addition, let’s not forget the home-field factor.
The inputs for the Merseysideiders are the following: they are unstable, concede a lot, but are quite good in attack – Nunez is gradually adapting to the game in England. The Reds are unstable, and concede a lot, but are relatively good in offense, although not at the level of last years’ campaigns, Nunez is gradually adapting to the game in England. Plus, the team have Salah. The Egyptian, though far from his optimum form, still continues to play the role of first fiddle. Gakpo is now here too, getting used to the feeling of scoring in the EPL.
Presumably, both teams will score goals – a feisty Newcastle and an occasional flashy Liverpool are capable of putting on a show. However, don’t expect an abundance of goals, the Reds have some problems with finishing, while Newcastle have only seen a total of more than 2.5 goals scored once in their last 7 matches.
And it’s hard to believe the Reds will win. The chances are that Howe’s side can get at least 1 point, with the Magpies capable of a draw in any scenario. The Black and Whites have lost only once in 22 games in the English Premier League, while Nick Pope can boast 12 clean sheets (the best result in the league with a margin of 2 games). The Reds are going to have a tough time of it.
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Parimatch News staff prediction:
We say: Newcastle will not lose and the match total will be less than 3.5 – Yes.
