Confidence isn’t excessive at Newcastle forward of Liverpool’s journey to St James’ Park, however Anthony Gordon’s velocity might be a potent weapon on Wednesday.
The Reds make the midweek journey to the Magpies for one more key sport of their Premier League title cost.
Eddie Howe’s aspect aren’t setting the world alight this season, however away clashes at Newcastle are not often simple, particularly beneath the lights.
One other Liverpool win right here could be important as they proceed deflating their rivals’ hopes.
Right here, This Anfield’s Henry Jackson spoke to Newcastle fan Dave Black (@cm9798) to listen to about Newcastle‘s season to this point, his ideas on Arne Slot and rather more.
How blissful are you with Newcastle’s season to date?
Most likely a few seven-out-of-10.
When you don’t go into element, we’re within the combine for the European locations and within the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, which is about pretty much as good as we may anticipate.
Below the bonnet, although, the performances have been fairly poor a number of the time and outcomes have usually masked our deficiencies.
After a summer time of minimal motion, there’s a number of frustration round.
Is Eddie Howe beneath any strain?
It’s at all times peaks and troughs up right here.
Earlier than the most recent worldwide break, Howe appeared to have discovered a very good steadiness once more. Beating Arsenal and Nottingham Forest back-to-back (plus Chelsea within the cup) had steadied the ship.
It’s been very poor within the two video games since, nevertheless, and we managed an xG of 0.02 away at Palace, which is sort of damning whether or not you consider in xG or not.
However there’s a feeling that he has sufficient credit score within the financial institution and sufficient sympathy for him as a result of FFP guidelines hindering our switch progress.
Might anyone else get extra out of some fairly common gamers in sure positions? I’m not so positive.
Who has performed properly and who has struggled for Newcastle?
Lewis Corridor has come into his personal at left again and now has full England honours.
Dan Burn has finished properly after being closely criticised at occasions final season, however he’s deputising properly for the long run stricken Sven Botman.
The entire ‘blue chip’ gamers have been patchy at finest.
Anthony Gordon hasn’t been almost pretty much as good and the captaincy is weighing heavy on Bruno Guimaraes. Alexander Isak has struggled for consistency and Callum Wilson made his newest comeback final week.
Sandro Tonali is again from his ban and has proven a number of promise at occasions, but it surely stays tough to get him and Bruno in the identical workforce successfully.
How do you assess Arne Slot’s begin to life at Liverpool?
Completely serene. Slot is sort of a pragmatic Jurgen Klopp.
I actually thought there could be a drop-off, however he has tightened up the defence and the assault is someway extra environment friendly.
Even when Man Metropolis hadn’t fallen off a cliff, they might be second at finest.
Are you backing the Reds to win the title?
I wouldn’t say it’s fairly over – I’m not over 1995/96! However, when you can navigate December with out too many blemishes it seems to be good for Liverpool.
What are your finest and worst reminiscences of this fixture?
The 2 4-3 defeats at Anfield within the Nineteen Nineties have been properly documented, however the residence sport has been feast or famine.
I noticed us lose 6-0 to you as soon as and I feel there was a 5-1 in there within the Joe Kinnear period, too.
We do sneak the occasional win and there was a 2-0 in 2012 the place Jose Enrique ended up in objective and Kenny Dalglish was the supervisor, which was fairly cathartic.
Looking forward to Wednesday, the place will the important thing battles happen?
I feel we are going to strategy this the way in which we did Arsenal and defend deep and attempt to counter on you.
Your proper/our left will likely be attention-grabbing, clearly Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold for you, and we have a tendency to make use of Joelinton and Joe Willock on that aspect with Corridor.
Isak got here off injured on Saturday, so it is likely to be Gordon by the center – his tempo towards your centre-backs is an avenue to look at.
What’s your prediction?
I feel we’ll dig in for a draw.
We don’t rating many as of late, so I don’t suppose we’re in for a thriller.
