LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alisson can strengthen his reputation as an all-time Liverpool great by keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle this weekend.
The Reds make the trip to St James’ on Sunday as Andoni Iraola makes his LFC managerial bow.
Alisson needs one clean sheet to move into outright fourth place in the club’s all-time clean sheet list, in all competitions.
He has 137 in total currently – only Ray Clemence (323), Bruce Grobbelaar (267) and Pepe Reina (177) are ahead of him.
Don’t expect a 0-0 this weekend!
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Incredibly, there has only been one 0-0 draw in the last 80 league encounters between Liverpool and Newcastle (and 86 in all competitions), dating back to February 1974.
That came back in December 2020 at St. James’ Park.
Liverpool have scored 131 goals against Newcastle, which is the most against any side in Premier League history.
They have also netted 54 times in the Premier League at St James’ – only at West Ham (55) have they scored more on the road.
Liverpool have done the double over Newcastle in six of the last eight seasons.
Can Iraola extend 18-game unbeaten run?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola on the bench before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola on the bench before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Iraola is on the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League (18 games).
That dates back to a 3-2 home loss to Arsenal on January 3 during his time in charge of Bournemouth last season.
Iraola will be the first in history to manage against Liverpool in the opening game of a league season and then coach the Reds in the first fixture of the following campaign.
He is also the seventh manager in succession to take charge of his first Liverpool game away from home, including Sir Kenny Dalglish’s first game of his second spell in 2011.
Milestone occasions for Liverpool trio
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It is likely to be a milestone occasion for Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz, both of whom are expected to start.
Gravenberch could make his 100th league appearance for Liverpool, while Wirtz is line to play his 50th Reds game in all competitions.
Harvey Elliott is more likely to miss out, but if he comes on as a substitute, he will represent his boyhood club for the 150th time.
Newcastle have gone months without a clean sheet
File photo dated 25-10-2022 of Matthias Jaissle, who is the shock favourite to succeed Eddie Howe as Newcastle head coach. Issue date: Thursday July 30, 2026.
File photo dated 25-10-2022 of Matthias Jaissle, who is the shock favourite to succeed Eddie Howe as Newcastle head coach. Issue date: Thursday July 30, 2026.
Newcastle haven’t kept a home clean sheet in the Premier League since January 4, in a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace.
The Magpies won just one of their six pre-season friendlies, winning 2-1 at Valencia a fortnight ago.
On the plus side for Newcastle, they haven’t lost an opening day league fixture since 2021 when they were defeated 4-2 at home by West Ham.
Liverpool and Newcastle goalscorers last season
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker embraces captain Virgil van Dijk before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker embraces captain Virgil van Dijk before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool: Ekitike 17, Szoboszlai 13, Salah 12, Gakpo 9, van Dijk 8, Wirtz 7, Gravenberch 6, Mac Allister 5, Isak 4, Chiesa 3, Jones 3, Robertson 3, Frimpong 2, Kerkez 2, Konaté 2, Ngumoha 2, own goals 3
Newcastle: Gordon 17, Barnes 16, Woltemade 11, Guimaraes 9, Osula 9, Joelinton 6, Thiaw 5, J. Murphy 4, Elanga 3, Miley 3, Tonali 3, Wissa 3, Botman 2, Burn 2, Ramsey 2, Hall 1, Schar 1, Willock 1
2026-07-31-032-Liverpool_Training
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)