The new Premier League season starts this weekend, and Newcastle United face a tough opener against Liverpool.
A pre-match tribute to Kevin Keegan, and the return of Alexander Isak to St James’ Park are just two of the things that will add extra emotion to this fixture.
Newcastle will field a much-changed side to last season, but what about Liverpool? Here, I look at their key and in-form players, and any weaknesses.
Key Players
Alexander Isak
I had to mention him, didn’t I? Isak’s first season for the Reds was marred by poor form and a broken leg. He only made 14 Premier League appearances, scoring one goal and getting three assists.
We can expect to see a different Isak this season. He has had a mixed preseason, only scoring one goal in the three games he played, but he is starting to develop a partnership with Florian Wirtz that could prove valuable.
He will be fired up by the febrile atmosphere, too. He may not be back to his best yet, but the Newcastle defence could be in for a torrid afternoon.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai was Liverpool’s best player last season. He made 36 Premier League appearances, scoring six goals and providing seven assists, and was the team’s creative heartbeat.
Szoboszlai is the sort of player who grabs the game by the scruff of the neck. He drives Liverpool forward, and provides the kind of leadership in midfield that Newcastle are currently lacking.
They look unlikely to bring in an experienced midfielder before the game, so expect Szoboszlai to exploit those midfield weaknesses.
Father Time may be catching up with van Dijk, but there is no denying his quality. He has been the lynchpin of the Liverpool defence for years, even as players around him have come and gone.
The 35-year-old played every Premier League game last season, grabbing six goals.
The Liverpool defence that lines up against Newcastle this time will be different from last season, and van Dijk will be a calming influence on Jérémy Jacquet and Ronald Araújo in what is bound to be a fraught atmosphere.
In-Form Players
After an injury-hit first season, Frimpong has started to show what he can do. The change of manager seems to have helped him.
Andoni Ireola has taken the shackles off, giving Frimpong the freedom to drive down the right flank.
He has two assists to his name in preseason, and it will be an interesting battle against Lewis Hall, who is trying to play his way into form after injury.
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz was another of Liverpool’s big money buys who struggled last season. He found it hard to adapt to the pace of the Premier League, and was bullied off the ball too easily.
Like Frimpong, he is beginning to find his groove. He was Liverpool’s top scorer with two goals in the preseason games, and he got three assists for Germany in the World Cup. He is rediscovering the creative spark that prompted Liverpool to spend £116m on him.
If Newcastle can keep Wirtz quiet, they will give themselves a big chance.
Cody Gakpo
Rumours are still swirling about a possible move to Tottenham Hotspur, but Gakpo has given Iraola something to think about in preseason.
He got a goal and an assist against Como, and was a standout performer for The Netherlands at the World Cup with three goals and one assist.
He may blow hot and cold, but he can capitalise if he is given the service. Unfortunately, he likes playing against Newcastle – he has two goals and two assists in his last seven games against them.
Weaknesses
Liverpool have looked shaky in defence during preseason, conceding seven goals. This is a continuation from last season, when they conceded 53 goals across the Premier League campaign.
They have lost a lot of experience, as Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have both left the club. This has put a lot of pressure on van Dijk as the new defenders settle in.
Like Newcastle, Liverpool need midfield reinforcements. Wirtz, Szobozslai, and Ryan Gravenberch are all great offensive midfielders, but Liverpool need a number six to provide defensive cover.
This gaping hole is one that Newcastle need to exploit to win the midfield battle.
Liverpool still need to replace Mo Salah on the right wing. Losing an iconic player is always hard, but they need to get someone in quickly.
The deficit on the right means that the majority of their attacks are coming down the left, which is unbalancing them and doesn’t suit Iraola’s attack-minded style.
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