Fresh from a demolition job, Liverpool stays at Anfield to defy Newcastle United’s challenge next in their first-midweek fixture of the season.
The Reds registered a record equal 9-0 win over now manager-less Bournemouth the day before Newcastle registered a point in the 1-1 draw against Wolves through a stunning volley by Allan Saint-Maximin.
LIV vs NEW Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 31 August 2022 / Thursday, 1 September 2022
Time: 20:00 (BST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
LIV vs NEW Match Preview
It is a rare scene in the Premier League that a team completely dominate the opposition with a huge goal-scoring margin even with the wealth of quality each side possesses in the competition. Yet, Liverpool found it quite easy to stroll past a blemished Bournemouth team by equaling the biggest win in league history. The 9-0 humiliation cost Cherries boss Scott Parker’s job despite his plead for more signings but for the Reds, it was a show of their might and a reminder to everyone of their class. The poor start to the season with no wins in the first three games became a hoax as Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a bullet header just two minutes on the clock in front of a celebrating Anfield followed by Harvey Elliot’s stunner for his first Premier League goal moments after. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s thunder strike rested some of his critics from the last games before Roberto Firmino’s brace, Van Dijk’s header, Chris Mepham’s own goal and Fabio Carvalho’s volley took Liverpool closer to history which was then achieved by Diaz completing the goal count, after starting it, with another header in a day to remember for fans of both the sides. Roberto Firmino hit form at the right moment with his goals and a hat trick of assists to give Liverpool their first win of the campaign and in some style. The Reds became only the third team in recent seasons to score nine goals without reply alongside Manchester United and Leicester City both against Southampton. This magnificent result gives Jurgen Klopp a great boost going into a tough round of fixtures that starts with Newcastle at home in midweek before the Merseyside derby at the weekend and the trip to Naples for their first Champions League group stage game of the new season against Napoli. Liverpool cannot afford to slip from here turning their season around in this manner and carrying an unbeaten record in their last 26 league games against Newcastle at home. Injuries still disturb the Reds as they search for a new midfielder in the summer window to strengthen up the most hit position but their positive record facing the Magpies should get them over the line.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle failed to follow up their impressive 3-3 draw with Manchester City in their trip to Molineux by only drawing 1-1 against Wolves. They also lost Allan Saint-Maximin through a hamstring injury after he scored a stunning volley from outside the box connecting a shanked clearance perfectly in the last minute of the normal time. Maximin’s shot before injury got saved and Elliot Andersen’s header from Matt Target’s corner hit the crossbar in injury time as Newcastle failed to stop their third consecutive draw in the new Premier League season. The Magpies had to come from behind for the second game running after Ruben Neves gave Wolves the lead through one of his trademark strikes outside of the box with both teams coming close to scoring earlier. The only win for Newcastle this season so far remains the 2-0 victory over the promoted side, Nottingham Forest in their curtain raiser. The team felt the absence of their injured players in the game especially in the striking department with Callum Wilson out through a hamstring injury. The new record $70 million signing of Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad will quench their thirst for a formidable striker upfront as much as the Toons are desperate to register him, pending clearances, ahead of their trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool. They needed him much more to clear out their dismal record here with their new ownership giving them the chance to do so. For that, Newcastle have to create some rhythm first and stop losing grip on games. The massive win for Liverpool in the weekend makes them a scary opposition at a time the Reds are recovering from an early season hangover. Eddie Howe’s men have equal opposition to face after this game so should try to deliver a promising performance that will set them a winning momentum going forward. Newcastle also have won their last two league games on a Wednesday but haven’t won at Anfield since a 2-0 win in 2015 under Steve McClaren, now an assistant coach at Manchester United.
Recent Form (League)
LIV: WLDD
NEW: DDDW
LIV vs NEW Team News
Injuries keep piling up for Liverpool as now midfielder Harvey Elliot has made himself a doubt after the 19-year-old was taken off at half-time because of a knock. He is doing individual training away from the main group. Though, the Reds are able to involve Curtis Jones and Joel Matip back with full team training. Jones didn’t feature at all this season carrying a calf problem while Matip was out through a groin injury playing only the first league game of the season. Youngster Calvin Ramsay is also back in group training since his move to the club from Aberdeen in the summer. Midfielders Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain all remain sidelined until the next month. Diogo Jota is also a few days away to get back to fitness from a thigh injury while Ibrahima Konate is out long-term. Second-choice goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is not fit. Record signing Darwin Nunez is serving the last game of his three-match ban and will be available for the Merseyside derby against Everton.
Newcastle are in a race against time to register their club record signing Alexander Isak before they head to Anfield. The Swedish striker arrived from Real Sociedad was in the stands overseeing his new teammate’s draw 1-1 with Wolves at Molineux in the weekend. The big blow for the Toons is their star winger Allan Saint-Maximin will miss the next set of games due to a hamstring injury he picked up in the game having scored a stunner. Bruno Guimaraes is also out sustaining a knock leading him to miss the weekend match altogether as is striker Callum Wilson struggling with a hamstring injury. Emil Kraft and Jonjo Shelvey are also absent through injuries.
LIV vs NEW Predicted Lineups
LIV: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Harvey Elliott, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Luis Diaz
NEW: Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, Matt Targett; Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Joelinton; Miguel Almiron, Chris Wood, Ryan Fraser
LIV vs NEW Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Alisson
DEF: Trent, Van Dijk, Schar, Trippier
MID: Almiron, Elliot, Longstaff, Diaz
FW: Salah, Firmino
Captain: Mo Salah
Vice-captain: Luis Diaz
Alexander-Arnold scored a screamer side by side winning every tackle and duel against Bournemouth. He also scored another stunner in the man of the match display against Newcastle in the previous meeting at Anfield.
Roberto Firmino scored 2 goals and delivered 3 assists in the last game, his best performance in a Liverpool shirt in terms of goal contributions. He has made 8 goals in his last five home games.
Luis Diaz started and finished the scoring of the record 9-0 win at the weekend. He has 3 goals in 4 games for Liverpool and has scored 5 of his 9 goals so far at Anfield.
Mo Salah has scored in each of his last five Anfield meetings with Newcastle. Overall, he has scored 6 goals and delivered 2 assists against the Toons.
