Liverpool vs Newcastle United: Another High-Scoring Contest?

Runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool will host European hopefuls Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday, February 26, with both sides eager to secure maximum points.

These sides played to a thrilling 3-3 draw when they met at St. James’ Park on December 4. Arne Slot’s side looked to have won the game when Mohamed Salah scored his second in the 83rd minute to put the Reds 3-2 up, only for Fabian Schar to rescue the Magpies with a last-minute equaliser. 

Prior to that game, Liverpool had beaten Eddie Howe’s team six times in a row, making them a solid choice for those looking to bet on football. However, Newcastle look more dangerous than ever with Alexander Isak in the form of his life.

Slot’s title-chasers won’t be short of confidence walking onto their Anfield fortress, but as we witnessed in the reverse fixture, the Magpies won’t stop playing until they hear the final whistle.In a battle between two high-quality teams and two top-notch managers, we should be in for a cracking contest. Who will come out on top? Let’s assess both teams before getting into our prediction. 

Liverpool Match vs Newcastle United Match Preview

Liverpool

Liverpool have been excellent in the Premier League under Slot's tutelage, with the Merseyside club sitting comfortably in first place since the early weeks of the campaign. 

The Reds have the most wins, most goals scored, fewest goals conceded and the most points. Not only that, but their talisman Mo Salah is also the top scorer in the league, at the time of writing.

Liverpool are heavy favourites to win the Premier League and a win over high-quality opposition in Newcastle will only strengthen their chances of achieving their target. 

With their long-term rivals Manchester City well off the pace and Arsenal struggling to close the gap, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if the Reds went on to secure the title with three games to spare. 

Newcastle 

Newcastle have been very impressive in the Premier League and have a strong chance of securing European football next season. But the Tyne side face an incredibly tough test away at Liverpool. 

For starters, Howe’s team haven’t been able to beat the Reds since the 2015/2016 season – 17 games ago and when Steve McClaren was still in charge of the Magpies! More worryingly for Newcastle, their last league win at Anfield was in 1994. On top of that, how do they keep the free-scoring Mo Salah quiet for 90 minutes? It all doesn’t bode well for the Tyne side. 

However, it’s important to note that Newcastle are stacked with quality. The likes of Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton would cause problems for any team in world football. 

Prediction: Liverpool to Win

The last time these sides met, there were six goals scored in the match, and given that both teams love attacking football, we can’t rule out another high-scoring affair. This time, however, we don’t see another statement. We’re confidently backing our beloved Liverpool to oust the Magpies and bag all three points.

Written by Alan Spencer