User Review
( votes)Newcastle v Liverpool – Match Preview
Newcastle welcome Liverpool to St James’ Park on Sunday in the English Premier League with both sides in differing form as they start to focus on the all important festive period. Liverpool look revitalised under new manager Jurgen Klopp whereas Newcastle look devoid of ideas and could well be drawn into a relegation dogfight if results do not improve.
Newcastle manager Steve McLaren is a man under pressure, with his side having won only two matches all season which sees them currently sitting second bottom of the Premier League table. Newcastle have conceded eight goals in their last two matches and have only managed one goal in response. A 3-0 home defeat by an in-form Leicester City side was followed by a 5-1 humiliation at the hands of Crystal Palace under former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew.
Liverpool have looked a change side under Jurgen Klopp and are in form, winning five out of their last six matches in all competitions which has seen them qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League and made it through to the League Cup semi-finals, where they will face Stoke over two legs. Liverpool go into Sunday’s match on the back of a 6-1 midweek thrashing of Premier League rivals Southampton in the League Cup, with striker Daniel Sturridge returning to the side and bagging two goals. As the busy festive period approaches the return of Sturridge is an important factor as they look to put themselves into what appears to be a wide open title battle. If Klopp and Liverpool do harbour genuine title ambitions, then matches such as Sunday’s are ones where they should be aiming to take maximum points from. On the road, Liverpool have been in ominous form recently, scoring 13 goals in their last three away victories and it could well be a long afternoon for the Newcastle defence if a fit again Daniel Sturridge plays. Sturridge has netted six goals against Newcastle in the Premier League, including four in his last three, more than against any other side.
Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners the last time the sides met, with goals from Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen and they will again be confident of taking three points on Sunday.
No English Premier League fixture has historically produced as many goals as this one and with Newcastle having conceded eight goals in their last two league matches and Liverpool having scored seven goals in their previous two matches, it would seem that a high-scoring match could be in store. With this in mind a bet on the under/over goals market may prove the most profitable bet on Sunday’s match.
Liverpool are the 1.57 (4/7) favourites for the match with Newcastle 6 (5/1) and the draw 4.2 (16/5). The football tip for Sunday’s Newcastle v Liverpool match is over 3.5 goals in the match at 3.1 (21/10).
By: Scott McGlynn