Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on Thursday with the home side hoping to maintain their consistent run of form and challenge the table-toppers Manchester City.
The Reds had a tough test last time around in league action on club icon Steven Gerrard’s return to Anfield with his Aston Villa outfit proving a stern opponent to deal with.
Mohamed Salah, however, was key to his side claiming the three points with the Egyptian winning and scoring a second-half penalty to ensure Liverpool’s winning streak did not come to an abrupt end.
Klopp’s high-flyers remain second in the league standings with Manchester City’s 7-0 rout of Leeds United earlier this week putting pressure on the Anfield camp to retain the momentum heading into the game against Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle fell to a defeat to Leicester City last weekend and with the Magpies languishing in 19th place in the table, a clash against an in-form Liverpool side awaits them come Thursday.
Level on points with basement side Norwich City at the lower end of the standings, Eddie Howe and his players will be taking on a formidable Reds outfit that are a strong favourite for the upcoming league tie.
Liverpool have won their last five games on the trot playing on the Anfield turf and expect another win for the Merseysiders who look solid on all fronts of late.
WHEN & WHERE?
Next up: @NUFC 👊🔴 #LIVNEW pic.twitter.com/6tKTzGGIEQ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 14, 2021
Date: 16 December 2021
Time: 8 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool were in for a major respite on the injury front with first-team duo Roberto Firmino and Curtis Jones returning to training as both are tipped to be in contention to make the squad for the Newcastle game.
Jurgen Klopp sounded out fears over a minor niggle for Divock Origi who is likely to sit out the forthcoming fixture.
Diogo Jota started on the bench in the win over Aston Villa and the Portugal international is poised to take the starting role this time around in the final third.
Central defender Nat Phillips is a long-term absentee at Anfield with a cheekbone fracture set to sideline him until the turn of the year.
Ibrahima Konate could be in the mix to partner Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the defence with Klopp expected to award some rest to Joel Matip.
KEY BATTLE
Mohamed Salah vs Callum Wilson
Salah remains Liverpool’s most influential presence out there on the pitch and with the Egyptian firing on all cylinders in front of the goal, another superb outing is expected to be on the cards from the Reds talisman.
For the visitors to Anfield, Callum Wilson will bear the brunt of his side’s responsibilities on the attacking front and the former Bournemouth man can prove to be a menace for the Liverpool backline to deal with.
MATCH PREDICTION
Liverpool are predicted to claim another win against an under-fire Newcastle United side who are set for a major battle to avoid the drop down to the Championship come the end of the season.
Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle United
