Arne Slot is beneath no illusions as to the scale of the duty his Liverpool crew will face once they tackle Newcastle United on Monday.
Certainly, Slot sees Eddie Howe’s crew as “probably the most troublesome groups within the league”, because the Reds look to start their marketing campaign with back-to-back victories, following their opening day win over Bournemouth.
Slot’s aspect acquired their title-defence off to the perfect begin, as they netted 4 previous the Cherries in an enthralling curtain-raiser at Anfield, with new signing Hugo Ekitike – who was beforehand a goal for Newcastle – opening his Premier League account.
Regardless of defensive vulnerabilities, the Reds’ assault has persistently proved decisive, and if Liverpool rating in opposition to Newcastle, they are going to match their document 36-game top-flight scoring streak.
Monday’s showdown guarantees to be fairly the tense encounter, because the Alexander Isak switch saga continues, with Liverpool’s supply of £110m being a catalyst for the striker’s subsequent refusal to play for the Magpies.
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However Slot doesn’t really feel the Isak state of affairs makes Newcastle a tougher aspect.
He mentioned: “Nothing to do with what’s within the media. While you get to Newcastle, you recognize what to anticipate. We performed them thrice final season and twice their depth ranges had been above us.
“I don’t suppose they want something add to be intense at St. James’ Park. It’s an excellent crew. They’ll make it a battle. They’ve gamers who’re so good on the ball. Top-of-the-line groups and probably the most troublesome groups to face within the league.”
Jeremie Frimpong trudged off injured on the hour mark in opposition to Bournemouth, and has been dominated out till after the worldwide break, with Wataru Endo in line to deputise.
And Slot hailed Liverpool’s medical employees for making the decision to guard Frimpong.
“The medical crew was utterly proper about Jeremie to take him off as a result of he’s out till the top of the worldwide break,” he mentioned.
“We felt Jeremie had a problem in his hamstring – the medical crew did. They had been proper. An excellent name from them as in any other case he might have been out for even longer.”
Newcastle come into the sport off the again of a goalless draw in opposition to Aston Villa, with either side struggling to seek out the online.
They’ve now failed to attain in three consecutive league matches, however their robust residence type has seen them win six of their final seven video games at residence. Whereas the Magpies registered 68 objectives final time period, 23 of them got here through Isak.
Discussing the Isak switch story forward of the sport, Howe mentioned: “It was a tragic second.
“My choice is these items don’t occur publicly. They’re higher handled behind closed doorways. However wants should. The membership has spoken, and justifiably so in that second.
“He’s contracted to us, he’s our participant. My want is that he can be taking part in on Monday. He gained’t be and that’s regrettable. However 100 per cent I would like him again in a Newcastle shirt.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Newcastle United – Anthony Elanga
Elanga arrived on Tyneside in a deal value £55m from Nottingham Forest. The Sweden worldwide was in impressed type final season, serving to Forest to a seventh-place end.
Having chipped in with 17 purpose involvements (six objectives and 11 assists) for Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect, the ahead can be hoping he can have the identical devastating affect at St. James’ Park.
Liverpool – Mohammed Salah
Salah discovered the online once more final week, scoring Liverpool’s fourth purpose and his first of the season.
Towards Newcastle, Salah has been straight concerned in 18 Premier League objectives — scoring 10 and aiding 8. Impressively, he has offered at the very least one help in every of his final six appearances in opposition to Howe’s aspect, making him the one participant in Premier League historical past to realize such a streak in opposition to a single membership.
MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN
Newcastle have now gone 17 Premier League matches and not using a win in opposition to Liverpool, with 5 attracts and 12 losses since their final triumph, a 2-0 victory again in December 2015 beneath Steve McClaren.
Traditionally, Newcastle have solely endured longer winless spells in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, failing to win in 22 league video games between 2006 and 2018, and in opposition to Manchester United with 18 matches and not using a league win from 2002 to 2011.
Beneath Slot, Liverpool have been prolific, scoring 90 objectives in 39 Premier League matches — a mean of two.3 objectives per sport — the very best ratio for a Reds supervisor within the competitors’s historical past.
Current conferences at St James’ Park have seen Liverpool come again from 1-0 deficits of their final two visits, profitable 2-1 within the 2023-24 season and drawing 3-3 in 2024-25. Total, Liverpool have gained 5 of their final seven away Premier League matches in opposition to Newcastle, with two attracts.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Newcastle: 30.3%
Draw: 24.1%
Liverpool: 45.6%
