Liverpool vs Newcastle United has been a fixture that has produced some of the most memorable and thrilling clashes in Premier League history.
Two consecutive 4-3 bonanzas at Anfield during the 90’s, both won by The Reds, place a prestige and background on this game like no other. It’s a meeting that no matter what predicament either club finds itself in within the league, always seems to be televised live – just in case.
Visions of Kevin Keegan slumped over the advertising hoardings, ‘COLLYMOOOOORE’, David James being irrationally too far out of his goal.
All the hits.
“To be fair, it was kamikaze defending. Managers would be dead within six months if every game was like that” – was the reaction of Roy Evans, the Liverpool manager following the 1995-96 season chapter of this thriller.
However, the context of those games could not be further away from the situation we find the fixture in this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are storming ahead at the top of the table with four wins out of four, sitting there on 12 points with the only 100% record left in the country.
Turmoil has set in up at St. James’ Park, as it always tends to do, with the club and fanbase in disarray following the departure of former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez in the summer.
The former Sunderland boss didn’t get off to the best of starts either with losses in his first two games – including a shambolic resistance in the 3-1 defeat to newly promoted Norwich City.
A shock 1-0 win away at Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur suggested the tide may be turning and not all hope is lost at Newcastle. Following that with a 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers Watford was perhaps solid and not detrimental.
Survival will be the aim of the game for Newcastle and Bruce this season, which is where lies the problem.
Adding to their four points in this game may be beyond the realms of possibility, especially considering Anfield is a ground they haven’t won at in the league since 1994, although there was a 1-0 League Cup win in 1995.
They haven’t beaten Liverpool in any of their last five meetings overall and it is safe to suggest they won’t be able to end that run on Saturday afternoon.
A comprehensive Liverpool win at 3-0 at 7.00* looks appealing.
LIVERPOOL TO BEAT NEWCASTLE 3-0 – 7.00*
Even in recent year this is a fixture that has produced goals, the majority being scored by the league leaders.
The two fixtures last season provided more than four goals on each occasion, with Liverpool winning 4-0 at Anfield and 3-2 up on Tyneside thanks to a late Divock Origi header.
For that to happen again, Over 3.5, is only placed at 2.05* but with Over 4.5 goals at 3.35*, this could be where your attention turns to.
OVER 4.5 GOALS IN THE GAME – 3.35*
📝 Black and White Hearts:
A much-needed reminder of what NUFC means“Keep believing and never give up on Newcastle United.”https://t.co/Q8n6YppLbZ
— True Faith NUFC (@tfNUFC) September 8, 2019
Failing to pass to teammate Sadio Mane aside, Mo Salah has had a strong start to the 2019/20 campaign. The Golden Boot winner for the last two seasons has bagged three goals in four games and did score in this fixture last season, from the penalty spot.
Our boosted odds on the site have the Egyptian to score first & the European Champions to go on and win the game at 5.00*, and you can bet that Salah will be itching to score to kick the fiasco with Mane at Burnley into the wind.
LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE UNITED BOOSTED ODDS
There’s an interesting sub-plot waiting in the wings in the form of Newcastle striker Andy Carroll.
The former England international, 30, was once Liverpool’s club record signing when he joined the club from The Magpies back in 2011 for a fee believed to be around £37 million.
That move turned out to be a disaster for club and player, and it’s not really worked out well for Carroll since, with injury after injury meaning his career has never really got going.
There can only be hope that the return back home to the North East will resurrect Carroll and he is back in training following a long period out due to an ankle injury.
It would be quite fitting if Carroll was to make his second debut for Newcastle at Anfield, and a fairy-tale return marked with a goal is priced at 11.75*.
ANDY CARROLL TO SCORE LAST – 11.75*
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