Liverpool vs. Newcastle United: EPL Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

Liverpool, who have arguably already secured the title of Premier League champions-elect, will face Newcastle United at home on Wednesday night in a stern test of their championship credentials before next month's EFL Cup final.

After a few hours following Manchester City's 4-3 victory against Nottingham Forest, the Reds' advantage at the top of the league grew into double digits when they defeated City 2-0 on Sunday.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

After Saturday's crushing defeat at the hands of West Ham United, the injury-plagued Gunners could not take advantage of Liverpool's slip-up in the Premier League championship chase. However, Arne Slot's dogged Reds wasted no time seizing the chance.

At the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool used their opponents' health problems to great effect. Despite Man City missing Erling Haaland, Liverpool held City at bay and scored two devastating goals in the first half via the hypnotic Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Despite the game in hand, Arsenal's 11-point lead over the league leaders looks insurmountable. Following a streak of four games without a convincing performance in any competition, Liverpool's performance in Manchester was the pinnacle of a champions' performance.

Even though Liverpool has yet to lose a Premier League match on the road this season (2024–25), Slot's crop has swiftly repaired Anfield from their shocking setback to Nottingham Forest in September, winning all seventeen of their home matches and scoring twice in everyone.

The hosts' narrow 2-1 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers two weekends ago was their fifth consecutive home win. Liverpool, who have won all twelve top-flight games played between Tuesdays and Thursdays in the last two months, also tend to play their best in midweek Premier League matches.

The league leaders will undoubtedly play their hearts out against a Newcastle team whose sharpshooter they may be jealous of, as is their habit while the championship chase is mathematically alive. Slot and his Liverpool players are, as usual, being as grounded as possible.

In Sunday's nail-biter against Forest, where Jacob Murphy and Lewis Miley also had a hand, Alexander Isak thrived in Newcastle's system. At the same time, Darwin Nunez struggled at the spearhead of Liverpool's assault. Isak scored 19 goals for the Premier League season.

Thanks to some poor set pieces in the second half, the game was far more nerve-wracking than it needed to be. Nevertheless, Eddie Howe's team just edged over his fellow high-flyers to draw level with Man City on points, with the only thing preventing them from finishing in the top four being goal differential.

By enduring Forest's late comeback, Newcastle avoided the embarrassment of losing three games in the Premier League. However, Howe's squad has again shown a lack of defensive tenacity, letting in nine goals in their past three games and five in all of their top-flight matches combined.

Even though Newcastle may have felt victorious in December's 3-3 draw thanks to Fabian Schar's heroic 90th-minute intervention, Liverpool have not won any of their previous 16 Premier League games against Newcastle. Liverpool last lost this top-flight fixture at home in 1994.

Liverpool x Newcastle United Team News

Only Conor Bradley (hamstring), Joe Gomez (hamstring), and Tyler Morton (shoulder) will not be able to play for Liverpool on Wednesday due to injury. Substitute Cody Gakpo was able to participate at the Etihad Stadium.

Gakpo may be promoted to the first team instead of Szoboszlai, who was worn out full-time on Sunday. Slot used Curtis Jones and Szoboszlai as number 10s at the Etihad because of Gakpo's lack of fitness. This decision paid off.

Slot should not feel compelled to make extensive changes midweek, especially because Liverpool have a free weekend before facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Salah needs only one more goal to reach ten in all Premier League games for the third consecutive season.

Additionally, Newcastle were unharmed in their seven-goal extravaganza against Forest, and there is a slim possibility that Dutch defender Sven Botman may be able to overcome a little knee injury in time to go to Anfield.

However, Joelinton and Jamaal Lascelles are still sidelined with knee issues; Howe is crossing his fingers that Joelinton will be ready to play in the March 16 EFL Cup final against the Reds.

Isak, a brilliant Swede, has scored 50 goals during his Premier League career and is now trying to tie Andy Cole's record set in 1993–94 with 12 goals for Real Sociedad. In the 2024–25 season, Isak has scored 10 goals away from home, two shy of Cole's record.

Our Predictions

Liverpool to win & Over 2.5 goals @ 1.84 on Sky247.ng

The Magpies are looking more and more vulnerable at the defense. Therefore, Wednesday's matchup between Liverpool and Newcastle could feature an abundance of goals, as is typical of their clashes.

We can't see anything other than the Reds achieving another massive milestone on the road to premier league greatness, even though Howe's players are usually dangerous in the closing third.

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