LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE: PREDICTED LINEUP

Liverpool host Newcastle United tomorrow night as they seek to cut the gap to the top of the table back down to 1 point. The Reds are coming off the back of a 1-0 win over Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa in what was their seventh straight win in all competitions.

Newcastle on the other hand, suffered their heaviest defeat of the season (4-0) at the hands of Leicester City last time out. We take a look at how Jürgen Klopp could line his team up for the encounter.

You can read our preview of the game here:

https://made4liverpool.com/2021/12/14/liverpool-vs-newcastle-preview/

It’s a relatively long break between the Villa game and this one. The kicker is, Liverpool travel to London to take on Spurs barely 67 hours after the Newcastle game ends. Thursday is the start of a run of 5 games in 14 days so there is definitely going to be lots of rotation.

The manager can choose to go with his strongest XI for Newcastle and Spurs, before taking them out for a rest when Leicester City visit Anfield for the League Cup quarter finals next week. Andy Robertson and Fabinho are both on four bookings so risk a suspension should they be booked here.

That could be a factor when Jürgen Klopp picks his lineup tomorrow. A shout for Tsimikas and Ox maybe if that’s the case. In goal, Alisson Becker is a given. He’s currently tied with Ederson for the most clean sheets (9) in the race for the Golden Glove. He’ll want another clean sheet here.

Ahead of him to aid that cause could be the regular back four. Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back, Joel Matip and Virgil Van Dijk at centre back and Andy Robertson at left back. Given the quick turnaround to kickoff at Spurs, we expect Konaté to come in for Matip as the Cameroonian continues to be carefully managed.

Tsimikas is another one who could well come in, but Robertson has been in great form recently and is experienced enough to deal with the threat of suspension hanging over his head. We expect him to retain his place here, meaning just the one change in defence.

In midfield, the manager seems to have settled on his first choice trio. Fabinho, Henderson and Thiago have started the last four Premier League matches and have struck a balance that has served the side well. Thiago has played a withdrawn role, almost alongside Fabinho at times in a double pivot.

This has then given Henderson the license to bomb on and almost play like a right winger at times. His understanding and intricate triumvirate with Trent and Salah has born fruits in attack. The temptation must be to keep fielding the trio. Fabinho being a booking away from suspension is a worry however.

Jürgen Klopp is unlikely to alter his midfield because of the threat of a suspension. If he did though, Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita are all options. They are options if there’s a worry about Thiago starting so many games in a row too.

We expect the Fab, Hendo, Thiago axis to continue. It’s great to have several options fit and available, and they will be needed in the coming games. A Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita midfield sounds perfect for the League Cup quarter final next week, although Tyler Morton will have something to say about that.

Upfront, Roberto Firmino is finally in contention again after a lengthy period out with a hamstring injury. Diogo Jota should start after only managing a second half cameo against Villa. Bobby will be aiming for a similar cameo here whilst Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah will be expected go again. Divock Origi misses out again with injury.

Predicted team:

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Jota, Mané.

Subs: Kelleher, Matip, Gomez, Tsimikas, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Minamino, Firmino.