English Premier
2025-02-26 - Liverpool vs Newcastle United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Wednesday 26th February 2025 - Kick Off 8:15pm
This game is live on TV
Liverpool
All of the momentum in the Premier League title race has fallen behind Liverpool after beating Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium twenty-four hours after Arsenal had been beaten again. While no one associated with the club will be organising victory parades just yet, Liverpool are in a very strong position and may be able to soon focus on trying win the Champions League.
They have a week of rest before the First Leg of the Last 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, but first Liverpool will want to keep the pressure on any team thinking about chasing them down in the Premier League. An 11 point lead has been opened up this past weekend, while Liverpool have a 9-2-1 record at Anfield in the top flight this season.
Liverpool have had a tough month of fixtures, but the win at the Etihad Stadium will have all walking a little taller and the upcoming mini-break will help the squad. Since being held by Manchester United in early January, Liverpool have won 5 straight games at Anfield in all competitions.
Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are absent, but Cody Gakpo made his return from the bench on Sunday and is available. Some changes will be made to the starting eleven to freshen things up, especially in the front line with Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez pushing for starts.
Newcastle United
It was more nervy than it should have been at the end, but Newcastle United's first half blitz of Nottingham Forest earned them three vital points in the Premier League on Sunday. On a weekend when a number of the clubs chasing top four places were beaten, it was important for Newcastle United to get the better of a direct rival for one of those spots and bounce back from the poor performance at the Etihad Stadium.
They have moved back up into 5th place in the Premier League table, which could be another position that brings Champions League Football to the club, and Newcastle United are just 3 points behind Nottingham Forest in 3rd place. The Magpies head across the country with a 6-3-4 record away from home where they have scored 22 goals and conceded 19.
Newcastle United have won 3 of their last 4 games in all competitions, although the win on Sunday was important having been beaten in 3 of their previous 4 Premier League games. The side had won 4 away Premier League games in a row before the thumping 4-0 defeat at Manchester City earlier this month.
Sven Botman could potentially be involved in the squad this weekend, while Joelinton continues to trend in a positive direction and should return before the March international break. Alexander Isak looked a little uncomfortable at the end of the win over Nottingham Forest, but should shake off any issue he is dealing with.
Head to Head
These two teams played out a back and forth 3-3 draw at St James' Park back in December.
Liverpool have beaten Newcastle United 3 times in a row at Anfield.
Prediction
Mikel Arteta is not going to throw in the towel on the Arsenal title challenge, but Liverpool are going to have to produce some really poor performances to allow an 11 point lead to be given up at this late stage of the campaign.
The fans will arrive at Anfield for this preview of the League Cup Final filled with confidence and it is going to be very tough for Newcastle United to contain the home team.
Even when Liverpool have looked vulnerable, they have continued to score a lot of goals and that will always give them a chance.
Mo Salah may be the best player in the world right now and everything he has touched has turned to gold. He opened the scoring on Sunday and is a key threat for Liverpool, while manager Arne Slot may also be able to rotate some of his players to keep them fresh and ready ahead of a break before the big Champions League Last 16 First Leg in the French capital next week.
Even then, the focus is on winning this game and Liverpool should have too much for a Newcastle United team that have not defended very well of late.
They won on Sunday, but conceded three times to Nottingham Forest and were hanging on at the end, while Newcastle United conceded four at Manchester City in their last away League game. It is very difficult to imagine them suddenly locking down a Liverpool team that have won 5 in a row at Anfield in all competitions and who have been scoring at least two goals per game at home ever since the 0-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest back in mid-September.
It is a boring pick, but Liverpool winning a game featuring at least two goals is the call and it would not be a surprise if Mo Salah is the key player again.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle United
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Liverpool to Win & Over 1 Total Goal (Bet Builder) at 1.61 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)
