Newcastle United host Liverpool in a huge game to round off the long Premier League weekend.
It is already one of the most storied fixtures in Premier League history but this particular edition brings an added spice.
Indeed, Liverpool are looking for revenge against Newcastle following their defeat in the Carabao Cup final in March.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are looking to respond after a difficult summer off the pitch – during which the Reds have done a lot of the damage. Arne Slot’s side first signed Hugo Ekitike after the Magpies made a move, and are now trying to take Alexander Isak away from St James’ Park too.
Newcastle vs Liverpool is going to be a huge game and the fact Isak is not going to play is a major blow for Eddie Howe, who confirmed that news on Friday.
Still, there are reasons for the Newcastle United manager to be positive.
Here’s why Newcastle can beat Liverpool on Monday, even without Isak.
Eddie Howe stands next to Arne Slot on the touchline at Wembley.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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Home comforts for Newcastle United
Howe has won all three of his first home games of the season while in charge of Newcastle.
They remain a fierce opponent at St James’. Last season, only Liverpool and Manchester City won more home games than Newcastle (12).
Under the lights on Tyneside and with plenty of ill-feeling in the stands, it’s going to be quite the spectacle.
Game Season
Newcastle United 2-0 Nottingham Forest 2022-23
Newcastle United 5-1 Aston Villa 2023-24
Newcastle United 1-0 Southampton 2024-25
Newcastle United’s record in their first home game of the season under Eddie Howe
Liverpool, meanwhile, lost three of their last four away games in the Premier League last season. Granted, the fact they had wrapped up the title nice and early probably explains that at least in part, but they do appear to have had trouble on the road recently.
Liverpool looking open
Liverpool are a brilliant team and one capable of scoring plenty of goals.
Still, they did look somewhat open defensively against Bournemouth on the opening day. Antoine Semenyo bagged a brace for the Cherries and Slot admitted on Friday that his team were “definitely too open” at times.
Newcastle do have the pace to exploit that space on the counter, although the return of Ryan Gravenberch should help Liverpool. However, a team who could feasibly be caught in transition will hardly relish coming up against the likes of Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes.
With Jeremie Frimpong out and Conor Bradley only just returning to training, Liverpool do have problems defensively too.
The Carabao Cup final
Newcastle beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final back in March and really should have won by more.
Howe’s side were brilliant that day and largely outplayed a Reds side who cantered to the League title in seriously impressive fashion.
It is hard to match the emotion of that day, but Monday’s game will likely come as close to doing that as a regular League game can given all the drama off the pitch.
Isak’s absence is hard to ignore. However, the Sweden star was not a one-man team at Wembley and Newcastle bettered Liverpool in almost every department that day.
Liverpool will likely be favourites on Monday but Newcastle certainly ended their hoodoo against them in the final.
Repeating that on Monday would feel very sweet indeed.