Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to Anfield for a Premier League meeting on January 31.
The current title holders head into the game still searching for their first three points of 2026 in the league.
Liverpool did just beat Qarabag 6-0 in a Champions League tie on Wednesday, but as Arne Slot has explained, the Reds are struggling in the Premier League.
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Are you confident Liverpool will beat Newcastle United this weekend?
Dominik Szoboszlai during Liverpool v Barnsley - Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Credit: Liverpool FC/Getty Images
We are yet to win a Premier League game in 2026…
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They have been overtaken in the race for the top-four/five by Chelsea and Manchester United, and would fall below Newcastle with a loss on Saturday.
Ahead of the tie, Alan Shearer has predicted the outcome and told the Magpies how to exploit Liverpool.
Alan Shearer highlights Liverpool’s defensive weakness before Newcastle
Ibrahima Konate is available to face Newcastle, as Slot confirmed in his press conference on Friday.
However, Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong are both unavailable, leaving Liverpool without a fit right-back and any form of centre-back cover.
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Now, when commenting on Saturday evening’s tie in his column for the Metro, Shearer has suggested Newcastle’s pacey wide players should be able to exploit what is a weak Reds backline.
Shearer predicted the tie to end as a draw and said: “In terms of an away game in France on Wednesday and the travel that goes with it, that would only suit Liverpool rather than Newcastle but the teams in the Champions League are used to that now.
“On the flip side, Liverpool have got injuries and they’ve been really poor defensively both in general play and from set pieces. So, Newcastle have to try and take advantage of that and with the pace of Newcastle and with Liverpool really suspect being hit on the counter-attack – that should suit Newcastle.”
Who on earth is playing at right-back for Liverpool vs Newcastle?
The rest of the XI picks itself, surely?
Liverpool Predicted XI vs Newcastle
Liverpool Predicted XI vs Newcastle
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Arne Slot shares Newcastle United verdict
Slot has a largely positive record against Newcastle since becoming Liverpool manager, but he did taste defeat in the Carabao Cup final last season.
The Dutchman has outlined what a tough game he’s expecting from the Magpies when speaking live at his pre-match press conference.
He said: “We have experienced how tough it is to play against Newcastle in the one-and-a-half years I have been here now. It’s always been a very tough contest, a very tough game for us, and for them as well.
“A great game to look forward to because we both had a good result [in the Champions League] during the week. A home game at Anfield is always something to look forward to.”
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