Game Week 24 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Newcastle

Premier League preview: Liverpool vs Newcastle at Anfield – Kops top-4 push, Salah key post-AFCON, Newcastle eye level points; verdict Liverpool wins.

Rio Nguomoha celebrates after his dramatic late winner at St. James's Park against Newcastle earlier in the season, will Liverpool do it again? (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Liverpool vs Newcastle

Anfield

9:00pm

Liverpool didn’t beat Burnley at Anfield; not only that, they gave bookmakers a filled day, and they also took some shine off the colour of their highly revered stadium. They must do better here.

Newcastle must be afraid. The Kops put six past Qarabag in their final game of the Champions League group phase; it was unprecedented because they struggle for goals. How did Liverpool find the nerves to stay composed in that game? Six goals? Newcastle should be afraid.

Maybe not; the Magpies went to Parc des Princes, home of the reigning UEFA Champions League kings, and earned a huge point. You don’t steal that in the market. A win in that game could have earned either of them a place in the round of 16 instead of playoffs; don’t rule Newcastle out of this one.

To make this game a little tougher than you imagined, a win for Newcastle takes them level on points with their hosts, which means that they will be just two spots off the top four, which guarantees Champions League football; it will be tough at Anfield on Saturday.

Word on the street is that Alexander Isak is back on the grass, but you can rest assured that he will miss this one; however, don’t rule him out of Liverpool’s next game. Hugo Ekitike will be the one to lead the line, and he needs goals to keep Isak on the bench or, at least, make them play together when the Swede returns.

Bruno Guimaraes will be assessed ahead of kickoff, as he was an unused substitute in their midweek game against PSG. They tick differently whenever the Brazilian is running the affairs of their midfield. They need him for this game.

Liverpool will hope Mohammed Salah is in inspired form to help them past the Magpies as they hope to challenge for the top 4. With five of the six English teams already in the round of 16, you expect England to have 5 slots in next season’s Champions League, so the fifth spot could do the trick, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

How will Newcastle approach this? Eddie Howe will set up to be compact in the middle. If they have their captain available, that makes this easier, so Liverpool will need all their energy to win the midfield battle. Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will need to be at their best for this one.

Where will their magic come from? The flanks and the final third. Ekitike for Liverpool and either Yoan Wissa and Nick Woltemade for Newcastle. Florian Wirtz is finding his feet;or will he deliver in this one, or will it be the Anthony Gordon show?

Verdict: Liverpool to win.