The very first game of Premier League match day five features league leading Liverpool FC hosting 14th place Newcastle United. While that sounds rather lopsided on paper, well, it looks even more mismatched when you consider the table toppers only have three fitness concerns while the team situated close to the drop zone could be without seven players.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce, who seems to see his seat warming by the week, is likely to be without the services of Florian Lejeune, DeAndre Yedlin, Allan Saint-Maximin, Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll. Meanwhile Miguel Almiron should feature but is a doubt to be in the first team.
“It is what it is. That’s the one thing in management when you get a bit more experience,” Bruce said of his side’s injury and fitness situation.
“You can’t worry about these things. They’re part and parcel—make no mistake about it.”
In other words, the Magpies had a really tough task to begin with, but now that task has been made that much harder, as they’ll take the pitch at Anfield with a very short-handed roster.
As for Liverpool, their three fitness concerns center around midfielder Naby Keita, defender Nathaniel Clyne and starting goalkeeper Alisson. The Reds will have to turn to Adrian again, as their No. 1 won’t be rushed back into action, but he is progressing in his rehab.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper coach gave an update on that today and he said that the Brazilian has been hitting the gym with a famous Alpine skier.
Keita picked up a groin injury last month in training before the UEFA Super Cup win over Chelsea, but could be back for this one. Clyne remains out indefinitely.
Liverpool FC vs Newcastle United FYIs
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Anfield, Sept. 14, 12:30 pm
Google Result Probability: Liverpool FC win 84%, Draw 11%, Newcastle United 5%
Odds via FOXBet: Liverpool FC win -650, Draw +600, Newcastle United +1700
Prediction: Liverpool FC 2, Newcastle United 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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