Liverpool v Newcastle preview: Team news, head-to-head, prediction
Liverpool host Newcastle looking to continue their charge towards the Premier League title on Wednesday.
The Reds boast a commanding 11-point lead at the summit of the top flight after the 2-0 victory over Manchester City (23 February).
Arsenal have a game-in-hand, which will be played when these two teams face off in the Carabao Cup final (16 March) but the Anfield outfit needs to maintain their comfortable advantage for as long as they possibly can.
They can start with a victory against Eddie Howe’s side (26 February) that would put Mikel Arteta’s side under immense pressure.
Preview
Liverpool have not lost a Premier League match since the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the fourth week of the season.
The Reds have won four of their last six league matches with a pair of 2-2 draws with Everton and Aston Villa being the only blemishes on a near-perfect record lately.
The way that they demolished Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday will certainly not dampen any expectations of lifting the title in May.
Meanwhile, the visitors come into the contest having lost three of their last six league games with heavy losses to Bournemouth and City and a narrow defeat to Fulham.
However, they will take encouragement from the fact that they beat Arsenal twice in the Carabao Cup semi-finals to book the clash with Slot’s side.
Form guide (Premier League)
Liverpool: WDWDWW
Newcastle: WLLWLW
Head to Head (Premier League)
| Result | Date |
| Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool | December 2024 |
| Liverpool 4-2 Newcastle | January 2024 |
| Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool | August 2023 |
| Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool | February 2023 |
| Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle | August 2022 |
| Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool | April 2023 |
Team News
Arne Slot is only missing three fringe players for the Anfield encounter with Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton out.
With a weekend off before the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, the Dutchman may decide to stick with the majority of the team that beat City.
Kostas Tsimikas could replace Andy Robertson, Diogo Jota could be favoured over Luis Diaz up front, and Cody Gakpo could return to the left wing after only featuring from the bench on Sunday.
The visitors are without Jamaal Lascelles and Joelinton but Sven Botman may recover in time to make the bench for the trip to Merseyside.
Predicted lineups
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Jota, Gakpo
Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Willock, Guimaraes, Tonali, Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
The Reds should have too much for the Magpies on this occasion.
Alexander Isak is a potent threat but the L4 outfit should be able to overcome Eddie Howe’s side given what is at stake.
Slot’s side need to make the most of their seven home matches during the run-in as they chase the title and the sensational form of Mohamed Salah and Van Dijk should be enough to do the job.