This week’s Super Sunday features just one match as Newcastle host Liverpool at St James’ Park. A barmy afternoon in the Premier League on Saturday has given these two sides plenty of incentives to get the points which should make for a decent afternoon.
A win for Newcastle would move them level with Bournemouth on the fringes of the safety zone but they are going to have to massively improve on the dross they have displayed in the last few weeks.
Liverpool will go level with Tottenham in fifth place if they win this match but perhaps more importantly they would move within six points of the leaders Leicester and only four behind Arsenal in second place.
Newcastle have been taken apart in their last two matches and you hear some of the comments coming out of Steve McClaren and you sense there is a desperation creeping in to try anything to get his players out of the rut they are in and getting some significant results.
Liverpool are the total opposite. You only have to look at Jurgen Klopp to know what mindset they are in. He’s full of smiles, happy as larry and their results are starting to mirror that. Since the international break they have won all four matches in all competitions including taking Man City and Southampton apart on the road.
Newcastle are going to be without Cheick Tiote again for this match and Mike Williamson misses out too even though he’s been out on loan. Injuries haven’t helped Newcastle in this run but they look a beaten side every time they go on the pitch. Maybe being total underdogs here might be a blessing.
Liverpool are likely to have to go into this match without Philippe Coutinho who remains a doubt while Emre Can definitely misses the game as he is suspended. Captain Jordan Henderson could be fit to start in Can’s place while Daniel Sturridge might get his first start in a couple of months too having overcome injury.
It might actually be better for Newcastle if this match was at Anfield where they can park the bus and grind out a result. I’m not sure they can do that at St James’ Park and worse still Liverpool’s pace in attacking areas should expose Newcastle’s back line regularly, much in the same way that Palace did last week.
I’m not usually a backer of away sides at odds on but I just don’t see where Newcastle get anything from this match and if Liverpool get ahead early, like they have in their last two away games, then this could get pretty nasty pretty quickly for the home side.
Back Liverpool (-1AH) to beat Newcastle for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Paddy Power
