Liverpool vs. Newcastle
Venue: Anfield Stadium
Kick off: 6:30PM
Liverpool play host to relegation-threatened Newcastle United in the Premier League this evening, aiming to maintain their unbeaten top-flight record at Anfield this season.
The Reds have been in fine form for the past four months, losing just two games in all competitions since the end of October to ensure that they remain on track to hit their targets for the campaign.
Pretty much the biggest compliment you can pay Liverpool right now is to talk up their ability to make the wins over Southampton and West Ham United in their most recent league outings look so easy.
Too often under Jurgen Klopp the Reds have lacked consistency just when it matters, although two defeats from 25 matches in all competitions – albeit with one of those knocking them out of the FA Cup – has put paid to those accusations.
Since suffering back-to-back losses to Swansea City in the league and West Bromwich Albion in the cup, it has been business as usual for Liverpool as they have picked up 10 points from the last 12 available.
The impressive run of form temporarily lifted Klopp’s men into second place last weekend, where they remained for 24 hours or so until Manchester United – whom they face in a blockbuster clash at Old Trafford next weekend – saw off Chelsea 2-1 for an impressive result of their own.
Sitting third heading into the final stretch is not bad going at all for the Reds, though, and most importantly of all they are now four points better off than Chelsea in fifth, meaning they are on course for back-to-back campaigns in the Champions League.
On his latest return to Merseyside, where he will no doubt receive a positive reception, Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez knows that there is still plenty of work to be done if his side are to avoid the drop.
The Magpies may be on a four-game unbeaten run, and they have lost just one of their last eight in the league since the end of December – that coming against runaway leaders Man City – but too many games have been drawn in that time.
With trips to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in two of their next three games, however, as well as home matches against Arsenal and Chelsea still to come, Lascelles’s confidence may be a little misplaced.
Liverpool possible XI: Karius; Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Mane, Firmino, Salah.
Newcastle United possible XI: Dubravka; Yedlin, Lejeune, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Murphy, Hayden, Diame, Kennedy; Joselu.