For all intents and purposes, Liverpool are the Champions Elect at the top of the Premier League table, but Newcastle United can upset their party both this week and in three weeks.
Anfield awaits for Eddie Howe’s men, whose shaky form in recent weeks was epitomised during Sunday afternoon’s thrilling win over Nottingham Forest, winning 4-3 in a game that highlighted strengths and exposed flaws.
Liverpool are ruthless, but they aren’t perfect. The Magpies earned a draw at St. James’ Park in December and have ample firepower to strike a blow to Arne Slot’s high-flying season, indeed making themselves known ahead of next month’s Carabao Cup final.
Howe’s dealing with a few injuries, but it’s largely positive news for the travelling Toon.
Newcastle team news
Joelinton remains sidelined after sustaining a knee injury at the beginning of the month. He won’t be fit for this one but Howe remains adamant the Brazilian is in contention to play at Wembley in three weeks.
Newcastle’s depleted backline remains without Jamal Lascelles for most of the campaign, but Sven Botman is looking to return from his latest setback. Albeit, this one might come a tad too soon.
Newcastle’s gaffer revealed he reluctantly replaced Joe Willock with Sandro Tonali against Forest at the weekend, initially unwilling to make the change after the silky midfielder felt a twinge in his hamstring earlier in the week. As it is, he’s in contention for Anfield.
Luckily, it’s a clean bill of health for United’s ferocious frontline – and it’s a good thing too, for the Magpies will need all their firepower to overcome the unstoppable Mohamed Salah.
Howe must unleash his own Mohamed Salah
Salah has scored 30 goals and provided 21 assists from 38 matches in all competitions for Liverpool this season, and while the Merseysiders have a range of dangerous forwards, he is the chief sharpshooter and supplier, all wrapped into one.
The only forward to outscore Alexander Isak in the Premier League this season, Newcastle’s defence will need to be on their a-game, but Howe must also meet fire with fire in some instances, and may want to consider unleashing his own version of the Egpyt star.
1.
Mohamed Salah
27 (27)
25
16
2.
Alexander Isak
24 (24)
19
5
3.
Erling Haaland
25 (25)
19
3
4.
Chris Wood
26 (25)
18
3
5.
Bryan Mbeumo
26 (26)
15
4
As such, this might be a good game for Harvey Barnes to make a rare start in the Premier League, having last been unleashed from the outset against Brentford in December – it was a chastening 4-2 defeat for Howe’s men, but Barnes scored.
His clinical edge can rival Salah’s. As per FBref, Barnes ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored (0.57) and the top 9% for touches in the attacking penalty area (6.90) per 90.
Such skills have seen Salah drawn by FBref as a player of statistical likeness, curiously. Pundit Matthew Upson has even praised Barnes for his “razor-sharp” finishing.
Anthony Gordon has wheels and multi-dimensional wide qualities, so he could play on the right flank in place of Jacob Murphy, to allow the right-footed Barnes space and positioning to arc inside and strike past Liverpool’s redoubtable goalkeeper.
Barnes is also something of a secret weapon, with five of his last six Newcastle goals coming on the road. The England international’s pace and potency in the final third could see Liverpool come unstuck, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate going to have an eye on Isak at all times.
It’s a move that would be somewhat contentious, moving Murphy to the bench after such committed and balanced attacking performances, but he flattered to deceive during December’s 3-3 draw, withdrawn after 74 minutes having completed only seven passes, missed a fantastic chance to score in hitting the woodwork and lost all three ground duels, squandering possession 12 times, as per Sofascore.
Against Liverpool’s mean defence, Newcastle need something more deadly to alleviate Isak’s workload, and Barnes might just be the man for the job.
Newcastle must rue selling world-class star who will be better than Gordon
Newcastle were forced to sell off two of their most prized assets in June to avoid a PSR breach, and one in particular is starring on the South Coast.
2 ByBen GrayFeb 24, 2025
