Liverpool 4-0 Newcastle: A Tactical Breakdown
Liverpool FC vs. Newcastle United FC; it's one of the most historic games in the Premier League, supposedly always meant to be a toe-to-toe, all-action, enigmatic thriller. Add in the magic of Boxing Day - a day which Liverpool have not lost a league match on for over twenty years - and the return of Rafael Benitez, and there was a recipe for something fantastic.
Newcastle are not the force they once were though, and despite their manager, on a …
Key Stats as Liverpool Pulverise Magpies To Go Six Clear
Liverpool swept Newcastle aside with an emphatic 4-0 victory at Anfield to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League table. But what were the key stats from a glorious afternoon on Boxing Day?
Set Pieces Fuelling Reds’ Season
I’ve highlighted before the role that set-pieces play in making the Reds one of the most dangerous and multi-faceted attack in the Premier League. Of Liverpool’s 43 PL goals, 15 of them have come from either free-kicks, corners …
Rafa feeling generous for Boxing Day 4-0 at Anfield
Boxing Day. And with family in town in the form of Rafa Benitez. What would the old manager have in store for us?
In days gone by, Boxing Day was reserved for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents as a reward for good service throughout the year. With Liverpool through the Champions League group stages, undefeated in the Premier League, leading the best English side assembled since The Invincibles by 4 points… there were plenty of Reds …
Player Ratings as Liverpool continue Christmas celebrations with 4-0 rout
The Christmas festivities continued at Anfield as Liverpool sealed another routine win, their eighth straight league victory - to remain top of the table.
It took some time for Klopp's side to get up to speed, probably carrying a hangover or two from the night before, but the players once again got the deed done, soaring to a 4-0 win against Newcastle.
A sluggish start was met with numerous opportunities for Joselu to give the visitors an unlikely lead before …
Liverpool v Newcastle United Preview - Will Rafa ruin Reds' Christmas?
The Details
Venue - Anfield, Liverpool
Referee - Graham Scott
Date & Time - Wednesday, December 26th @ 15:00
Current Odds - Liverpool 7/50, Draw 7/1, Newcastle United 14/1
Form
Liverpool Form
Things are becoming very real for The Reds at the top of the table. Seven straight league wins since their 1-1 draw with Arsenal in early November means Liverpool are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table.
Jurgen Klopp's men are now four points ahead of Manchester City after …
Rafa Benitez Still Channeling Spirit of Istanbul
Three game weeks ago, Newcastle were on just 3 points from 10 games, 19th place in the Premier League, yet to win a league game, and only avoiding being rock bottom because of the absolutely dire form of fellow strugglers Huddersfield, who they were only above on goal difference.
And yet, even with their own fans furious and finally starting to shift their wrath away from Mike Ashley and towards their manager, a lot of external football supporters were more …
Buoyed by Optimism - Liverpool's Season Ahead
It’s a weird feeling not really knowing how to manage your expectations as a Liverpool fan. I’m 38 - a seasoned pro at this. However, never in my experience of supporting The Reds can I remember a feeling of such enthusiasm surrounding the club.
Not Then, Not Ever
Even after Rafa’s fantastic 08/09 team came within touching distance of the title there was still the unmissable grey Hicks & Gillett cloud hanging over Anfield. We knew Benitez had almost achieved …
Leon Bailey and that "Concrete Interest"
With the breaking news this morning that Bailey himself confirmed Liverpool have a “concrete interest” in him, I decided to follow on from my pieces on Fekir & Pulisic with a look at the Leverkusen star, Leon Bailey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfzKDAPd9VY
Above: Reliable Bundesliga journalist, Old Gregg, hinting at a move to Liverpool.
My mind wandered this morning to that exact moment I fell in love with him, as a player. I had seen him a few times, mostly in cameos or a …
Joe Gomez: The Next Carragher?
Joe Gomez signed for Liverpool as an exciting young centre-back who at 17 years old had broken into Charlton's first team. In 18 first team starts he'd played both centre-back and right-back, showing his pace, power and surprising physicality given his age.
Due to a spate of injuries in the squad, Gomez started his Liverpool career playing out of position as a left back. At 18 years old he looked assured, composed and ready for the challenge of playing for …
Can Klopp finally land the League Title?
Prior to the World Cup, Liverpool could conceivably have delivered the most spectacular summer for many a decade (in midfield alone). The midfield roster was oh-so-close to being Fabinho, Keita and Fekir. An upgrade of epic proportions and the kind of statement of intent that has been rare in the Anfield Premier League era.
Midfield moves
If we measure our title aspirations against our most serious rivals moving forward, Man City, then the midfield upgrades are clear. The respective quality …