Liverpool entertain Newcastle at Anfield on Saturday night with the usually goal-laden fixture having the added spice of both sides needing points for their respective bids for a top-four finish
The battle to finish in the Champions League places is hotting up and two rivals prepare to do battle on Saturday evening, when Liverpool play host to Newcastle at Anfield.
The Reds’ 10-game unbeaten league run came to an end at Bournemouth last week, which saw them slip to sixth in the table.
Newcastle are three places and three points behind their opponents and head to a ground where they have lost on their last four visits.
We have a suggested Liverpool vs Newcastle four-leg Bet Builder which, if successful, will return 9/1.
Liverpool v Newcastle Bet Builder Tips
- Both Teams to Score @ 3/5
- Hugo Ekitike – Anytime Goalscorer @ 19/20
- Liverpool to get the first card @ 11/10
- Over 11.5 Corners @ 5/4
Goals on the agenda when Reds and Magpies meet
This fixture provided two 4-3 thrillers in back-to-back seasons during the 1990s, and goals have been a theme between these sides ever since.
There were five in the reverse fixture back in August, when Liverpool ran out 3-2 victors at St James’ Park thanks to a dramatic late winner from Rio Ngumoha.
Both teams have scored in five of their last six meetings in all competitions, with Liverpool having the edge in meetings at Anfield.
The Merseysiders are unbeaten in 29 Premier League match ups with the Magpies on home soil and you have to go all the way back to 1994 for the away team’s last win.
It’s also worth noting that only Manchester United and Arsenal have had more shots than Liverpool this season, with Arne Slot’s men averaging 10.21 per game.
Leg 1: Both Teams to Score @ 3/5
Ekitike shining on Anfield stage
A lot was made of the struggles Liverpool’s new signings had settling in at Anfield, but Hugo Ekitike has been the exception.
The Frenchman joined the Reds in a £65million move from Eintracht Frankfurt and the striker has hit the ground running.
Ekitike, who was also a summer target for Newcastle, has eight league goals to his name and added another to his European tally with a good finish in the 6-0 win over Qarabag.
The 23-year-old, who scored on Tyneside in August, was a surprise omission from the starting XI at Bournemouth and Slot is unlikely to make that mistake again.
Leg 2: Hugo Ekitike – Anytime Goalscorer @ 19/20
Tension could lead to cautions
Neither of these two teams are in the top 10 for Premier League yellow cards, but Liverpool have collected more cautions than their opponents.
Slot’s men have picked up 38 yellows to Newcastle’s 31, with three players having received five league bookings – Dominic Szoboszlai, Connor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate.
As well as the race for European places, there could be some bad blood at Anfield, especially after Anthony Gordon was sent off when the two teams met in August.
Leg 3: Liverpool to get the first card @ 11/10
Set-pieces could be key
Nobody has won more corners than Newcastle in the Premier League this season (149), which is an average of 6.47 per game.
Eddie Howe’s men have scored no fewer than 15 set-piece goals and their corners played a key role in their EFL Cup final success over Liverpool last term.
Although the Reds haven’t enjoyed the same success from set-pieces so far this season, they have won their fair share of corners, with an average of 5.56 per game.
Leg 4: Over 11.5 Corners @ 5/4
