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Liverpool take on Newcastle United knowing that victory keeps them top of the Premier League table on New Year’s Day.
The pair previously faced off in late August when 10-man Liverpool secured an unlikely victory at St.James’ Park thanks to a second half Darwin Nunez double in a game full of controversy.
That game showcased the strength of character within this Liverpool squad and they’ve won 12 of their 19 Premier League matches since, losing just once – and that was while having nine men. They take on a Newcastle United side that have won just once on the road – the 8-0 humiliation of Sheffield United.
This should be a blood and thunder encounter which means there will be plenty of actions to back in your Liverpool vs Newcastle United bet builder – follow the information below to create a winning bet builder and start the new year off just right.
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LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE PREDICTED LINEUPS
Gomez expected to start at left-back
Jurgen Klopp is unable to call upon either of his first-choice left-backs for this game so Joe Gomez is likely to start out of position once more on the left. Otherwise, changes are unlikely with Diogo Jota’s fitness issues and Alexis Mac Allister’s knee issue likely to keep them out of the starting XI, giving Cody Gakpo and Wataru Endo more opportunity to shine.
Joelinton to return for Newcastle
Newcastle are getting close to have their first-choice starting XI available once more with Sven Botman and Dan Burn returning to the back four and Brazilian Joelinton back in midfield after a niggling injury issue. He returned from the bench against Nottingham Forest with Eddie Howe no doubt saving him for this encounter. The question is whether he replaces Lewis Miley or Sean Longstaff in midfield.
LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE TEAM STATS
Liverpool unbeaten at home
A huge reason for Liverpool’s title charge is their home record – they remain unbeaten and have only dropped points against fellow title chasers Arsenal and a goalless draw with Man United that they ought to have come away victorious from. If you remove the Arsenal game, they have had 17 shots in every home as well as 4 or more shots on target and five in seven.
Newcastle abysmal on the road
Newcastle have lost their last four on the road and their performances aren’t much to shout about either – they have conceded at least 1.4 xG in each and two or higher in the other three. They have conceded five or more shots on target in their last five away matches and five or more corner kicks in four of their last five. They do at least draw fouls – Newcastle have drawn nine or more in every match and 10 or more in every away match.
LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE SHOTS AND SHOTS ON TARGET stats
Szoboszlai may be the play
There isn’t a huge amount of value in backing Liverpool’s obvious goal threat – Mo Salah – to have shots. Therefore, we should probably look towards midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai who has managed two or more shots in 8 of his last 13 starts – he’s available at 1.4 to match that feat which could be worth backing given Liverpool’s shot count at home.
Value at Newcastle
Anthony Gordon will want to prove himself against Liverpool as a boyhood Evertonian and he has the numbers behind him – the winger has had a shot on target in 9 of his last 13 Premier League games and 2 or more shots in 10 of those. He can be backed at evens to have a shot on target and 1.62 to have two shots. Bruno Guimaraes is also 1.62 to have a single effort at goal, something he has managed in 11 of his last 14 matches.
LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE GOALS AND ASSISTS stats
Salah remains the main man
Mo Salah continues to defy logic by being insane into his 30’s, contributing to a Liverpool goal in 14 of his 19 Premier League matches while having a combined 19 contributions this term. He can be backed to score or assist anytime against Newcastle United at 1.57. Darwin Nunez was the hero last time the sides met and can be backed to score anytime at 2.2.
Isak is back
Alexander Isak hasn’t found things quite as easy since his last injury lay off but found the net in the defeat against Nottingham Forest, a game in which he had five efforts at goal and four on target. He’s likely to lead the line ahead of Callum Wilson and is a cool 3.5 to score anytime. Anthony Gordon still has more contributions this term and the extra-motivated wide man is available at 3.4 to score or assist anytime.
LIVERPOOL CARDS AND FOULS stats
Endo might have a tough day
Wataru Endo hasn’t found things terribly easy since he moved to England and he has committed two or more fouls in five of his last six starts – dangerous territory against Newcastle United. He’s not the only bad boy, mind. Dominik Szoboszlai has found in 9 of his last 11 matches while Ibrahim Konate has done so in seven of his last nine, including two or more in five of those.
That midfield will have their work cut out if the trident of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff start. Guimaraes has been fouled in 32 of his 33 matches for club and country this season including twice or more in 24 of those. The only game he wasn’t fouled was against AC Milan – he has responded by being fouled five, three, six and five times in the following four and is evens to be fouled three or more times this weekend.
NEWCASTLE CARDS AND FOULS stats
The midfield clash goes the other way
Bruno Guimaraes gives out what he receives having collected six yellow cards this season, including two in his last three. He has committed over a foul and a half per 90 like compatriot Joelinton, who has fouled in seven of his last nine matches. Neither of those are as consistent at present at Kieran Trippier, who has fouled his man in 14 of 18 matches this season.
Trippier could find himself competing against either Darwin Nunez or Cody Gakpo and if it’s the latter, he has a problem given Gakpo has been fouled in each of his last eight starts. Wataru Endo does at least draw fouls, drawing two or more in five of his last seven (he’s 1.3 to draw one and 2.4 to draw two), while Ryan Gravenberch has been fouled in his last four outings.
LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE BET BUILDER TIPS AND PICKS OF THE PACK
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Liverpool vs Newcastle
1st January
kick off 20:00 Dominik Szoboszlai to have 2 or more shots 
Szoboszlai has had 2 or more shots in 8 of his last 13 matches
Szoboszlai has had 2 or more shots in 7 of 9 home matches
Liverpool to win Liverpool have won 7 of their 9 home matches
Newcastle have lost 6 of their 9 away matches and each of their last 4
Dominik Szoboszlai to commit 1 or more fouls Szoboszlai has committed a foul in 9 of his last 11 matches
He’s up against a Newcastle midfield that draw around 5 fouls per 90 minutes combined
Bruno Guimaraes to be fouled 2 or more timesGuimaraes has been fouled 2 or more times in 24 of 33 matches for club and country
Liverpool have committed at least 9 fouls in 8 of their 9 home matches
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