Liverpool is back in Premier League action over the weekend, as the Merseyside outfit travels to the north-east to take on Newcastle United.
Sky Sports television pundits Jamie Carragher (L) and Roy Keane talk to each other before the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City
Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane disagreed on their predictions for Liverpool's clash with Newcastle(Image: (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images))
With the Premier League season back in action this weekend, predictions have come flooding in for how the campaign as a whole will go, as well as the individual matches in gameweek one.
For Liverpool, there are clear hopes that the season will be better than the previous one, which saw a quick start lead to a difficult year overall for Arne Slot, who eventually lost his job as a result of it. Andoni Iraola is now in charge of the Reds, who will trade the more patient possession-based approach for a more intense, pressing style of play that has become synonymous with the team from the Jurgen Klopp era.
It all kicks off for the Spanish coach away at Newcastle United, where there has also been a change in the dugout, as well as plenty of movement within the locker room.
Matthias Jaissle will be in charge of the Magpies for the clash, as he also looks to get his time at a new club off to the ideal start, despite the sale of some key stars.
Considering the amount of change in both camps, it is tough for anyone to predict exactly how the season will go for either, let alone the game at St. James' Park.
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle reacts on the touchline during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Strasbourg
Matthias Jaissle has spoken ahead of Newcastle's match with Liverpool in the Premier League(Image: (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images))
That was certainly the case when former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher and ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane looked ahead to predict the outcome of the match.
While both former professionals backed the Reds to win, Carragher believed it would be a tense victory for the Reds, while Keane believed it would be a comfortable triumph.
Speaking on Stick To Football, Keane backed Liverpool to win 3-1, before Carragher responded: "I think Liverpool will just scrape through, 2-1, but Newcastle will almost do well in the game and there will almost be a better feel-good factor about Newcastle and the performance."
Keane hit back and said: "No, this confirms that everything [at Newcastle] is up in the air, the fans throwing their season tickets, it'll be frustrating."
It sets up an intriguing encounter between Liverpool and Newcastle, that will catch plenty of attention and interest from fans across the Premier League.
Both teams will be missing some key players, with Tino Livramento and Joelinton set to miss out for the Magpies, while the Reds will be without the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley.
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There will be debuts on either side, with Amar Dedic and Bazoumana Toure among those who may feature for the home side, while Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz, and Ronald Araujo could take to the pitch in a first competitive match for Iraola's team.
It'll be a first opportunity for the two teams' respective eras to get off to the ideal start, but there can only be one winner at the end of it.