Newcastle United will travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday night, hoping to kick off 2024 with a bang.
The Magpies were stunned 3-1 by Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Boxing Day which left them ninth on the table. This means they have lost four of their last five Premier League games, with their solitary win coming against 10-men Fulham earlier this month.
Having lost their way in the top four race in recent weeks, Eddie Howe will be keen to bounce back to winning ways against Liverpool, who went to the top of the pile with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.
Newcastle United Team News
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United could be without as many as nine players for Monday’s night game at Anfield, with Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett sidelined due to injury. Lascelles’ injury isn’t too serious and his fitness will be assessed before the game.
Predicted Newcastle United lineup vs Liverpool (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Newcastle are set to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Martin Dubravka taking the gloves. The Slovakian has conceded 14 goals in the last seven games across all competitions, so he will be desperate to shut the shop as quickly as possible at Anfield.
Defence
In front of Dubravka, the defensive unit should feature Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn. Schar and Botman will start in central defence, while Trippier and Burn operate as the full-backs. Trippier, in particular, will look to provide the width in the final third.
Given how defensively poor Newcastle have been in recent weeks, the aforementioned quartet have to be on their toes throughout the game to keep a lethal Liverpool attack quiet at Anfield.
Midfield
As for the midfield unit, Joelinton could come into the team at the expense of young Lewis Miley. His inclusion will add physicality and dynamism to Newcastle’s engine room, which will also have Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff.
The triumvirate of Longstaff, Bruno and Joelinton will look to protect the Newcastle backline, keep things ticking in the middle of the park and provide the forward thrust.
Attack
Alexander Isak scored in the 3-1 defeat to Forest to take his season’s tally to 10 goals. The Swede is expected to get the nod over Callum Wilson again to lead the Newcastle attack, with Miguel Almiron and Anthony Gordon providing flair, creativity and energy from wide areas.
Howe will expect the front three to click and cause problems for the Liverpool backline. If Newcastle are chasing the game, he could bring Wilson off the bench.
