Liverpool travel to Newcastle to play Steve McClaren’s side on Sunday. Rush The Kop’s predicted XI for the match.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have been, and pardon the overplayed sequence of words, road warriors. Any attempt to avoid the phrase would prove futile as there’s no other way to depict Liverpool’s road form under Klopp. Just ask Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton.
Professional punters and seasoned degenerates become wary when a result seems to likely, when most of the plays are on one side. This match sets up as such: Liverpool to thrash Newcastle at St. James’ Park seems all too likely.
- Liverpool are unbeaten on the road under Klopp including multigoal wins over the three teams mentioned above.
- Newcastle just hemorrhaged five goals to Crystal Palace, who’d been struggling for goals, and three to Leicester City in their last two matches.
- Daniel Sturridge is back and fired a brace in his first start under Klopp.
- McClaren’s job is heavily under question and Liverpool could push owner Mike Ashley over the edge to making a change.
Sport is a funny paradox sometimes. When everything appears set up for a predictable result, then an African witch doctor casts a spell upon Cristiano Ronaldo and things go array. Unconfirmed.
(How’s my attempt to reverse the jinx this weekend going?)
If Liverpool are to qualify for Europe, these are the games that simply need to be won. There’s no two ways about it.
They should win, too. Newcastle are ripe for the picking and, irrespective of everything Klopp has said in defense of McClaren, when playing a struggling a team there’s no room for sympathy on the pitch. And there won’t be.
This is a game that feels set up for Liverpool to really flex their attacking muscles again after beating Southampton 6-1, a much better defensive side. An early goal will go a long way in securing that type of result.
A lot of players have laid claims to a spot in the first team in recent weeks. There isn’t really a player bereft of form at the moment.
Emre Can is unavailable due to suspension but Lucas Leiva is available again. Jordan Henderson is in the process of returning from an injury and could be ready for his first start in the league since Bournemouth in August while Daniel Sturridge could be ready to start again after going from the initial whistle on Wednesday. Philippe Coutinho’s availability is still unconfirmed but it looks rather grim for this match.
Rush The Kop’s Liverpool predicted XI.
GK Simon Mignolet
Liverpool’s number one may have a quiet day ahead of him but he’s usually good for one above average save a match, something that goes unnoticed too often.
RB Nathaniel Clyne
Clyne finally got himself a rest over the week as Connor Randall filled in adequately for the Englishman. Clyne will get forward and provide crosses to the strikers and find some space if Newcastle predictably clog the center of the pitch.
CB Martin Skrtel
This center back pairing has been surprisingly uncharitable to attackers they face. Something that’s been uncharacteristic of the two. Skrtel has raised his play since Klopp took over, a welcomed sign.
CB Dejan Lovren
Speaking of raising his play, Lovren has fooled fans with this before.
But is this real? Is he ready to commit to responsible, sensible defending? I’m so ready for this.
More from Rush The Kop
- Set to return, Virgil Van Dijk facing heavy criticism back home
- Liverpool making late comebacks all the rage once again
- Wolves tilt gives Klopp opportunity to tinker with lineup following international duty
- Players to watch in the matchup with Wolves
- Predicting Liverpool’s Next Five Premier League Fixtures
LB Alberto Moreno
Moreno, like Clyne, will have license to roam forward as well as the space to operate.
DM Lucas Leiva
With Moreno and Clyne embarking on their war of attrition getting forward, Liverpool will get countered and Lucas will be there to swipe it up.
CM Jordan Henderson
Hopefully Henderson will be fit enough to go from the jump against Newcastle to reintegrate himself into the side. Liverpool have missed their captain and will need him.
CM Adam Lallana
Before I heap praise upon Lallana, it was very hard leaving out James Milner and Joe Allen. The latter played exceptionally well against Southampton while the former has improved his form of late. But, it’s so hard to resist this attacking side and if Henderson is fit, he’s ahead of those two.
Onto Lallana. He’s been Liverpool’s most consistent attacker this season. Coutinho drifted out of form after his first game up until Klopp took over essentially and has hit heights that Lallana hasn’t this season, but the Englishman has consistently been above average each game he plays.
AMC Roberto Firmino
Firmino got rest midweek to freshen him up for the weekend and hopefully it does him wonders. If not, a halftime hook isn’t out of the question and Milner or Allen will be put into the game with Lallana pushed up higher.
But that’s the worst case scenario. More of the City version of Firmino than the man playing since then, please.
ST Daniel Sturridge
If he’s fit to play, he’s fit to play. If it’s not a risk to start him then he gets into the first team. And this partnership needs to get some minutes together.
Studge showed against Southampton why he’s borderline world class. Let’s get that African witch doctor on the case of placing a reverse curse on Sturridge to keep him fit.
ST Christian Benteke
I’ve been of the opinion that Fabricio Coloccini isn’t a good defender. Benteke can bully the faux David Luiz into submission and grab a goal or two with Sturridge to jump start their partnership.
Next: Players we wish Liverpool would sign: Goalies
Team in full: (4-4-2 tight diamond) Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Lucas; Henderson, Lallana; Firmino; Sturridge, Benteke