CHRIS SUTTON HAS GONE FOR HOME WIN 3:1` Liverpool v Newcastle (20:00) With one win in four Premier League games, this has turned into an even bigger match for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, whose side have struggled on the road all season. Newcastle need to keep faith with Howe, but after this game they face north-east rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup and then host Manchester City, so they have to find a win from somewhere. I don't see it happening at Anfield, though. A lot of people are banging on about Arsenal challenging City for the title, but Liverpool are the team who will push them closest. Liverpool will miss Mohamed Salah when he goes away with Egypt to the Africa Cup of Nations in mid-January, but they have enough firepower to win without him - and he will be around to play in this one. Sutton's prediction: 3-1 Rick's prediction: Newcastle have lots of injuries and seem to have lost a bit of form. Liverpool are going to up the ante, so I am going with them to win. 3-1 Who do you want to win the Premier League this season - and who do you think will win it? Well, it's not going to be us. I would say that Arsenal have got the biggest chance of stopping City but - and I don't mean to sound fickle because I used to love the Tottenham home kit where the sleeves went down to the elbows - I want Spurs to win it. JONES KNOWS BEST HAS GONE FOR HOME WIN. Liverpool vs Newcastle, Monday 8pm, live on Sky Sports please log in to view this image Image:Liverpool vs Newcastle Stream this game with NOW Watch free Premier League highlights Eddie Howe admitted Newcastle will have to be "near perfect" to leave Anfield with a result. Back-to-back defeats to Luton and Nottingham Forest has left the Toon in a sticky spot and Howe has called for a reaction. Reading between the lines, there's a sense that Newcastle will be going back to basics in attempt to stifle Jurgen Klopp's side. Perhaps in the style that Manchester United resorted to? Low block and try to hit on the counter. If that's the case then Liverpool's corner count could be the value with Newcastle happy to force them down the channels. Against similar tactics at home against Everton, Manchester United and West Ham, Liverpool won 12 corners in all three games. That is a 12/1 shot with Sky Bet to happen again with the 10 or more corner line at 7/2 also likely to be a runner. SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
so does anyone else expect an absolute ****show of a game from Newcastle? the one thing I do not expect is them to come and attack. I kind of expect every time wasting trick in the book allied with an extreme low block and players flopping over at the tiniest contact. I am still thinking this line up alisson trent konate vvd gomez Szoboszlai endo macallister salah gakpo nunez Jones might start and macca come in but I think this will be our approach. the crowd needs to be spot on and on the refs back the first time they flop over.
NEWCASTLE INJURIES: Nick Pope is absent with a shoulder injury, Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock have suffered setbacks in their recoveries from foot and Achilles injuries respectively, while Matt Targett, Elliot Anderson, Jacob Murphy and former Liverpool defender Javier Manquillo are all sidelined. Sandro Tonali is suspended.
