Match Focus: Can Lowly Newcastle Halt Impressive Liverpool Progress?

In what is a highly-aniticipated Premier League fixture given the matches played out between the two over the years, and arguably the most attention grabbing this coming gameweek, Newcastle host Liverpool in Sunday’s late kick off. The two teams come into this fixture is contrasting form, with Newcastle currently mired in the relegation zone and two points off safety. Liverpool, meanwhile, enter this fixture with their confidence sky high. The Reds secured their place in the semi final of the Capital One Cup with a 6-1 thumping of Southampton in midweek.
 
Meanwhile, the Merseysiders are now just six points off top spot after a 1-0 win over Swansea last week, their first in the league at Anfield since Jurgen Klopp took over the reins following Brendan Rodgers’ sacking. Whisper it quietly, but Liverpool could still consider themselves title contenders if they can maintain their good form at Newcastle’s expense this weekend.
 
The Magpies look at a loss as to how to correct their poor form, with Steve McClaren struggling to portray his ideas to the squad. A fortuitous away win over Bournemouth is their only victory in their last five league outings, though they have lost just one of their last four on home turf, that coming against a rampant Leicester side.

 
A similar showing to the one in the 6-2 rout of Norwich - their only home win this term - is required if they are to halt Klopp and co. at St. James’ Park this weekend, with key midfielder and summer signing Georginio Wijnaldum excelling in the win over Alex Neil’s side. Since then, though, the Dutchman’s form has tailed off, with the former PSV captain struggling to match the heights of his 10-out-of-10 performance against the Canaries.
 
Newcastle perhaps hold the upper hand having a full week’s rest behind them, while Liverpool travel to Newcastle on the back of their midweek excursions on the south coast, but a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace will have dented morale. McClaren now needs his leaders to stand up and take responsibility of the club’s failings, with Wijnaldum one whose displays need to rise to a standard he is capable of.
 
No player has scored more headed goals in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season than Wijnaldum (4), who has the ability to ghost into the opposition penalty box to score. If Liverpool indeed fail to closely track the Netherlands international, the 25-year-old can maximise his attacking prowess to hit the back of the net. That said, Newcastle will spend most of the match without the ball, so I don't think the Dutchman will have much of an impact and would sell shares at Buabook in the match market north of £0.25.
 
For the visitors, Klopp will look to the offensive qualities of Roberto Firmino as a path to goal. The Brazil international - like Wijnaldum - moved to England over the summer and after an underwhelming start to life at Liverpool, appears settled and back to his best under Klopp. The three league goals he has been directly involved in have come in his last four league appearances.
 
Firmino was in fine form on Liverpool’s last league game away from home as the Reds romped to a 4-1 win at title favourites City, where Firmino gained the man of the match award with a WhoScored rating of 8.92. No team has conceded more league goals than Newcastle (30) in England’s top tier this term, so Firmino will be confident of adding to his solitary Premier League goal against the Magpies. The return of compatriot Philippe Coutinho could aslo aid the Brazilian, who is very much on the same wavelength, so I'm backing Firmino to shine and will buy shares in the match market for anything less than £0.70.
 
A win for either side will go a long to achieving their respective seasonal goals, though Liverpool understandably come into this fixture as strong favourites. After a superb win at Southampton on Wednesday, they have what it takes to reaffirm their status as outside title favourites, in the process condemning Newcastle to their ninth league defeat of the campaign.

You can trade the values of any of the players on display as Newcastle host Liverpool with Buabook, the first player trading exchange based on detailed statistics