Confidence isn’t excessive at Newcastle forward of Liverpool’s journey to St James’ Park, however Anthony Gordon’s pace may very well be a potent weapon on Wednesday.
The Reds make the midweek journey to the Magpies for an additional 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 hardly ever straightforward, 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 thus far, his ideas on Arne Slot and rather more.
How glad are you with Newcastle’s season to date?
In all probability 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 count on.
Below the bonnet, although, the performances have been fairly poor lots of the time and outcomes have usually masked our deficiencies.
After a summer season of minimal motion, there’s lots of frustration round.
Is Eddie Howe beneath any strain?
It’s all the time peaks and troughs up right here.
Earlier than the newest worldwide break, Howe appeared to have discovered a great stability 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, nonetheless, and we managed an xG of 0.02 away at Palace, which is sort of damning whether or not you imagine in xG or not.
However there’s a feeling that he has sufficient credit score within the financial institution and sufficient sympathy for him because of the FFP guidelines hindering our switch progress.
Might anyone else get extra out of some fairly common gamers in sure positions? I’m not so certain.
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 executed 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 greatest.
Anthony Gordon hasn’t been practically 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 lots of promise at occasions, but it surely stays difficult to get him and Bruno in the identical crew 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 by some means extra environment friendly.
Even when Man City hadn’t fallen off a cliff, they might be second at greatest.
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 good for Liverpool.
What are your greatest and worst recollections of this fixture?
The 2 4-3 defeats at Anfield within the Nineteen Nineties have been properly documented, however the house 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 aim 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 try to counter on you.
Your proper/our left will probably 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 may be Gordon by the center – his tempo towards your centre-backs is an avenue to observe.
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.
