'That should suit Newcastle': Alan Shearer says what Newcastle United must exploit to get result at Liverpool
Anfield will play host to Newcastle United tonight as Liverpool look to build on their huge Champions League win in midweek. Kick-off is at 8 pm, and the game is live on TNT Sports.
Newcastle picked up an impressive result away in Paris on Wednesday, but Liverpool's 6-0 demolition of the Magpies' next Champions League opponents, Qarabag, will have put them in a buoyant mood ahead of this one.
Having said that, the Magpies should be feeling pretty good about themselves, too, after an outstanding performance in the French capital on the same evening.
The problem is that Newcastle had to travel to France and back while Liverpool were at home. The Magpies also had trouble getting out there with their flight having been delayed three hours, so it was all less than ideal.
Alan Shearer says Liverpool struggle at defending quick counterattacks
Writing for his column in the Metro, Alan Shearer believes that the midweek travel will come into play for Newcastle tonight, but the former Toon striker also has ideas for Newcastle to snatch a result.
"It is a huge game for both clubs. Newcastle have to try and put them under as much pressure as possible. I guess there’ll be a little bit of ill-feeling spilled over from the Northeast side, albeit Isak isn’t going to be involved at all.
"Both teams had decent results in midweek. Liverpool winning by six, Newcastle going to PSG and getting a draw. With Newcastle’s away form, it doesn’t fill me with great confidence. But if they can have the same attitude and play very much like they did against PSG, whether Eddie Howe changes the system or not, again, I’ll have to wait and see. But I’m going to go with a draw.
"Newcastle playing away to PSG on Wednesday could have a bigger effect on them than Liverpool playing at home, but what I would say is Eddie Howe did change a lot of personnel around. He left Bruno out because of a knock. He brought in Ramsey and Willock. He left out Barnes and Gordon so he will be able to shift it around a little bit if he feels he needs to.
"But in terms of an away game in France on Wednesday and the travel that goes with it, that would only suit Liverpool rather than Newcastle but the teams in the Champions League are used to that now.
"On the flip side, Liverpool have got injuries and they’ve been really poor defensively both in general play and from set pieces. So, Newcastle have to try and take advantage of that and with the pace of Newcastle and with Liverpool really suspect being hit on the counter-attack – that should suit Newcastle.
"Prediction – Draw"
Anthony Gordon needs to get at Dominik Szoboszlai
It's expected that midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai will be playing at right-back tonight for the Reds, which is something that Anthony Gordon should also look to take full advantage of.
The Magpies have tools in their arsenal to cause Liverpool problems; it's just whether we get the Champions League battlers or the Premier League bottlers.
Newcastle's inconsistency this season makes every game so much harder to predict. Although it's Anfield, so we have a fair idea of what to expect.
