Newcastle and Liverpool will be looking for an early-season marker against rivals for a top-four place this season.

The Magpies are hoping for more of the same after an incredible campaign that saw them finish in the UEFA Champions League spots for the first time in 20 years. The Magpies began the new Premier League season with a scintillating 5-1 win over a highly-rated Aston Villa side that threatened to announce them as top contenders this term. 

However, things will not get easier for Newcastle after the narrow 1-0 loss to champions Manchester City as Liverpool are up next at St. James’ Park. It must be said that gone are the days of gloom and blind hope amongst the Newcastle faithful who will be expecting a positive result against the Premier League powerhouses

At least a point against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will count as progress as Newcastle have won only two and drawn six of their last 20 meetings with Liverpool. To break the status quo and become a consistent top-six side, the Tyneside outfit must gain the psychological edge of regularly beating the top sides in the league.

First on the agenda for Newcastle will be ending Liverpool’s unbeaten run in their last 13 head-to-head meetings which is easier said than done given the incredible winning machine that is already in place. 

The Merseysiders have earned four points so far after drawing at Chelsea on opening day and beating Bournemouth 3-1. They may have ended up outside of the top four places last season but are showing enough positive signs to suggest they will be back to their best this season. 

It has been a summer of huge turnover for the Anfield side but they will still be fancied to stake a claim in the title race. Par for the course, going to a revived Newcastle and getting a result would mean well for their title credentials this season.

Liverpool have not lost against the Magpies in all competitions since 2015 but another positive turnout will fill them with confidence as much as an unbeaten start to the domestic season. 

Match tickets

The game kicks off on Sunday, 27th August 2023 at 4:30 pm UK Time with St James’ Park Stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne being the venue. 

The Geordies always walk out to a glorious sea of White and Black and the match-up against one of the finest clubs in the country will make for an unmissable atmosphere. Given the current mood around the club, you can expect literal fireworks before and after kick-off as the Newcastle crowd attempt to fire up their players. 

Tickets have already been made available via the official channels of both clubs but you can still expect St. James’ Park to be sold out. Hence, Newcastle United vs Liverpool tickets will be very difficult. 

With this being a big game between top four rivals, tickets may no longer be available via club sources so supporters will have to find theirs on a ticket reselling site.

Team news

Newcastle have bid farewell to the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Chris Wood and Karl Darlow while Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento and Harvey Barnes have been recruited to bolster their ranks on their return to the UCL. A few more shrewd names are expected in the coming weeks as Howe needs a competitive squad that can handle the rigours of both Champions League and Premier League football at the top end of the table, but the club must also function within their Financial Fair Play (FFP) limits. 

In terms of availability, defenders Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth are long-term injury absentees while midfielder Joe Willock is a doubt for the visit of Liverpool.

For Liverpool, Klopp has seen captain Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino and James Milner all leave the club. With World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo coming in to fill key gaps in the midfield. 

Midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are both unlikely to feature on the trip to Newcastle where the Reds boss will be hoping to field a new-look combination in the middle of the park.

Line-ups

Alexander Isak is a man in form after putting Aston Villa to the sword with an opening-day brace, this takes the Swede to 12 goals in 24 Premier League appearances for Newcastle and Liverpool will have their work cut out to stop him. The Geordies’ attack is a more vibrant force with Isak leading the line and he will have some joy running into spaces behind the visitors’ high defensive line.

Newcastle are likely to field an unchanged side for the third straight league game with the emphasis on stopping Liverpool and asserting themselves on a porous backline. 

Newcastle United: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon

Klopp may have planned to start his newly-acquired midfield trio at Newcastle but those plans will change slightly following Mac Allister’s straight red card against Bournemouth. Nevertheless, Endo could be called upon for his full debut at the base of midfield with either Curtis Jones or Cody Gakpo filling in the other spot.

Elsewhere, the Reds are likely to be unchanged barring any late fitness issues after each member of the front three scored last time out at Anfield. The defence will always concede chances but rotation is unlikely and they can call upon the safe hands of Alisson Becker.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Salah, Jota, Diaz

Prediction

Both teams tend to cancel each other out as their last three meetings at St. James’ Park yielded less than two goals. Liverpool do have the upper hand historically but they have always faced stiffer competition in the North East which encourages Newcastle to harness their home advantage this time.

With the reducing gap in quality combined with Liverpool’s recent defensive record, a hard-fought draw seems the realistic outcome. Newcastle Utd 2-2 Liverpool