Game Week 2 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Newcastle

Liverpool visit Newcastle aiming for back-to-back wins. Isak absent amid transfer saga, Salah & co. eye three points. Verdict: Liverpool to win.

Newcastle must prove that they can win without Alexander Isak when Liverpool visits St. James's Park on Monday. (Photo credit: Opta)

 Newcastle vs Liverpool

St James's Park

8:00 pm

Liverpool has the chance to join Arsenal and Tottenham as the only teams to have six points on the board, and they must beat Newcastle to earn that status.

Newcastle was unlucky not to beat Aston Villa at Villa Park last weekend. The Magpies had a numerical advantage for the best part of the second half after Ezri Konsa was sent off for a professional foul; they must find a way to earn a result in this one.

While it was an emotional event, bagging three points on the opening day with two late goals against Bournemouth says a lot about Liverpool's mentality. They led 2-0 only to be pegged back by two Antoine Semenyo goals.

There's an elephant in the room, and that is the Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who wants to join Liverpool this summer. The Magpies insist on not selling him, while Isak has refused to rejoin the squad for training, which makes him unavailable for this fixture.

Lots of pundits and professionals have had their say about the Isak situation. It's okay for a player to want something else, but his contract is something to respect, and he might want to succumb to club pressure for the sake of his career.

To the game at St James's Park on Monday night, it's an opportunity for the club to prove they're bigger than Isak. The expectation is for Anthony Gordon to continue upfront, but is he sufficient for the task against Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté?

Liverpool's front four of Mohammed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, and Hugo Ekitike is one of the strongest in Europe; this firepower will trouble any defence. It will be a huge test for Eddie Howe and the Newcastle defence.

Newcastle must be brave. Chances won't be a lot like they had against Aston Villa; Harvey Barnes could give way for Jacob Murphy, while Anthony Elanga is expected to start on the right.

The battle in midfield will see a return for Ryan Gravenberch, while Joelington and Bruno Guimaraes would hope to find ways to dominate proceedings. It's advantage Liverpool with Isak's absence but, Newcastle must show why they're a Champions League side.

Verdict: Liverpool to win.