Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearerplaceholder image
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer | Getty Images
A look at how the pundits expect Newcastle United to fare against Liverpool later today.
Alan Shearer has backed Newcastle United to earn a point against Liverpool this weekend.
Not since 1994 - a 2-0 win with goals from Rob Lee and Andy Cole - have the Magpies won at Anfield in the Premier League. Even at St James’ Park, a Gini Wijnaldum brace in December 2015 is the last time Newcastle have beaten Liverpool at top-flight level.
But who could forget last season’s Carabao Cup final, the heroic effort at Wembley that ended 70 years without domestic silverware on Tyneside? That result proved Newcastle can compete with the Premier League champions - and Alan Shearer has backed Eddie Howe’s team to do exactly that when the two teams line up tonight.
Alan Shearer
“It is a huge game for both clubs,” he told Metro. “Newcastle have to try and put them under as much pressure as possible. I guess there’ll be a little bit of ill-feeling spilled over from the Northeast side, albeit Isak isn’t going to be involved at all. Both teams had decent results in midweek. Liverpool winning by six, Newcastle going to PSG and getting a draw. With Newcastle’s away form, it doesn’t fill me with great confidence.
“But if they can have the same attitude and play very much like they did against PSG, whether Eddie Howe changes the system or not, again, I’ll have to wait and see. But I’m going to go with a draw.
“Newcastle playing away to PSG on Wednesday could have a bigger effect on them than Liverpool playing at home, but what I would say is Eddie Howe did change a lot of personnel around. He left Bruno out because of a knock. He brought in Ramsey and Willock. He left out Barnes and Gordon so he will be able to shift it around a little bit if he feels he needs to.
“But 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.”
Prediction: Draw
Chris Sutton
“I was in Paris to watch Newcastle for 5 Live on Wednesday,” he told BBC Sport. “They made loads of changes and started badly but they could have won it in the end.
“They showed a graphic on Match of the Day on Sunday which underlined how important Bruno Guimaraes is to Newcastle because, basically, they don't win when he is not playing. Eddie Howe did not risk his captain against Paris St-Germain and will be hoping he is fit enough to start at Anfield but, even if he is, I still fancy Liverpool here.
“Liverpool walloped Qarabag in midweek, but one of their issues this season has been following up good wins like that in Europe with a similar result in the league the following weekend.
I don't really trust Arne Slot's side to turn up this time either but Newcastle's poor away form should help them here - and the Magpies' record at Anfield in the past 30 years is pretty abysmal.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United
Paul Merson
“You don't know what you're going to get with Liverpool!” Merson wrote in his SportsKeeda column. “It's really weird what's happening with them. They spent all that money and can't keep a clean sheet in the league!
“We were sitting here at the start of the season, and when Liverpool bought Alexander Isak, we thought they will run away with the league title. It's quite interesting how it has not panned out that way. If Liverpool fail to finish in the top four, I think Arne Slot will be gone.
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“Newcastle shock me with how bad they are in away games, but they did well on the road against PSG in the Champions League. I expect Bruno Guimaraes to start this game. This is a hugely important game for Newcastle and they need him in midfield. Liverpool have had a lot of injury problems this season. I don't understand why they did not go all in for Marc Guehi.
“They needed a centre-back so bad and they let City sign him. Now it's starting to look like Liverpool haven't bought well at all. After the injury to Jeremie Frimpong, I expect Dominik Szoboszlai to play right-back in this game. Newcastle have strong wide players like Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga. So I don't think Liverpool will use Wataru Endo like they did against Qarabag.
“Szoboszlai is the best available choice at right-back because he has done quite well playing there. But Liverpool haven't been as dominant as they have been in midfield this season. If you take Szoboszlai out of that midfield, you have another big gap to fill there. I'm backing Liverpool to win here, but I'm not really sure why! Maybe because they are playing at home. I honestly can't think of anything else.”
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United
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