Only one team has beaten Newcastle United so far this season, believe it or not. And the one team that did beat them- actually one of this season’s biggest disappointments- Liverpool FC.
Will the Magpies get revenge in the reverse fixture? They are probably feeling pretty good about their chances right now as they sit five slots higher in the table than their opponents.
Newcastle vs Liverpool FYIs
Kick-off: Saturday, Feb 18, 5:30 pm local, St James Park
Google Result Probability: Liverpool victory 35% Draw 27% Newcastle victory 38%
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
PL Form Guide: Liverpool WLDLL Newcastle DDDWD
PL Standing: Liverpool 9th, 32 pts Newcastle 4th, 41pts
Team News for Both Sides
For the Reds, there are five injury absentees to be considered about in this one: Thiago Alcantara (groin), Luis Diaz (knee), Arthur (thigh), Ibrahima Konate (thigh) and Calvin Ramsey (knee). Otherwise everything else is all good for Jurgen Klopp’s squad fitness situation.
Flipping over to the Geordies, three players:
Callum Wilson (thigh), Allan Saint-Maximin (knee) and Miguel Almiron (also a knee issue) are doubts for this one.
Meanwhile Eddie Howe will have to soldier on without the services of the following six players:
Javi Manquillo (unspecified), Bruno Guimaraes (suspended), Matt Targett (ankle), Jamaal Lascelles (personal leave), Joe Willock (thigh) and Emil Krafth (knee)
With that all said, predicting the Liverpool first team here is pretty straight-forward, everything other than the midfield pretty much picks itself for the most past.
Starting XI Prediction
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Keita, Fabinho; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Newcastle 1, Liverpool 1
Not believing in the Mersey-siders to sweep the season series in 2022-23, but we do think they’ll take away something from this result.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now. Follow the website on Twitter and Instagram.