Verdict: Total goals over 3.5
Best odds: 27/25
Bookmaker: 888Sport
After what would seem like a very long international break to those preferring club football, the Premier League continues on Saturday as Champions League holders Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to open the fifth round of the 2019/20 season.
Liverpool
Having just missed out on the league title last time around, Liverpool had a rather quiet summer transfer window this year. The only changes in the first-team squad were the departures of striker Daniel Sturridge and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and while young Rhian Brewster made the step up to fill the Sturridge-shaped hole, the club signed Adrian, former West Ham shot-stopper, to replace Mignolet as the No.2 goalkeeper.
Despite all that, Liverpool remain the only team in the league with a 100% record after four rounds. Norwich City, Southampton, Arsenal and Burnley all succumbed to their continued good form, and by beating the Clarets two weeks ago they’ve set a new club record with 13 straight Premier League wins. They will take some stopping.
Team News
Nobody at Liverpool, presumably, will have believed how soon Adrian would become an important signing. Manager Jurgen Klopp’s undisputed first choice between the sticks, Alisson Becker, went down with a calf injury in the first round and he still remains out, which means the Spaniard is once again practically certain to start. Midfielder Naby Keita has been absent for a while with a groin problem, but he could return on Saturday.
Meanwhile, forwards Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Xherdan Shaqiri all missed out on international duty and are presumably all 100% ready. It could mean that Roberto Firmino, who did play for Brazil, is rested and starts on the bench. If so, either Shaqiri or Divock Origi would presumably get the nod.
Newcastle
Unlike Liverpool, the Magpies had a very turbulent summer. They were unable to agree a contract extension with manager Rafa Benitez, who was, incidentally, the last man to lead Liverpool to Champions League glory before Klopp, back in 2005. Steve Bruce took his place, and a few notable changes to the squad were made, mostly in the attacking department. Joselu (Alaves, €2.24m) and Ayoze Perez (Leicester City, €33.4m) have both departed, and the club replaced them with 22-year-old Joelington, who arrived from Hoffenheim for €44 million, and Andy Carroll, what was certainly an emotional return to the place his career started for the target-man; before he left to join Liverpool in January 2011. Newcastle managed to retain the services of midfielder Sean Longstaff, who was reportedly a subject of strong interest from Manchester United.
Team News
Bruce revealed that the injury of forward Dwight Gayle, who was often the whip of Liverpool in his career, isn’t getting any better and it has become a big worry for the Newcastle medical team. Wide man Matt Ritchie is also out with an ankle problem. Carroll, who arrived back to St. James Park injured, has only just started light training and will therefore not be involved. Winger Allan Saint-Maximin and defenders DeAndre Yedlin and Florian Lejeune are also out.
Conclusion
With all due respect to them, the Magpies will find it extremely hard to get anything away from the place where so many mighty teams have fallen over the last few seasons. They will undoubtedly try for a point at least, but if they return home with anything like a dignified defeat, they will have done well.
Apart from their visit to St. Mary’s, all of Liverpool’s games saw at least four goals, and there’s no reason not to assume this one won’t. They will attack from the start, looking to settle the game as soon as possible, and they aren’t likely to stop before they’ve scored three. At the other end, it’s always possible that Newcastle nick something back.
Verdict: Total goals over 3.5
Best odds: 27/25
Bookmaker: 888Sport
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