English Premier
2026-01-31 - Liverpool vs Newcastle United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 31st January 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Liverpool
Things have progressed pretty smoothly in the Champions League and a 6-0 win over Qarabag has ensured Liverpool safe passage into the Last 16 of the competition. This is a club with a deep affinity with the competition and they will be dangerous when the Knock Out Rounds begin, but for now Arne Slot and the Liverpool players have to turn things around in the Premier League after a poor run.
Last Saturday a late goal saw Liverpool beaten at the Vitality Stadium and that has seen them slip into 6th place in the Premier League table. They are only 2 points behind Manchester United in the top four, but missing out on the Champions League next season would be a huge blow and so there is pressure on The Reds who have a 6-3-2 record at Anfield in the top flight ahead of this weekend.
Liverpool have only lost 1 of the last 15 games in all competitions, but they have been struggling for Premier League wins and have won none of the last 5 League games played. The win over Qarabag means Liverpool have won 4 of the last 6 games played at Anfield in all competitions, but they have been held to consecutive Premier League draws at Anfield by Leeds United and Burnley.
Joe Gomez is a doubt and Ibrahima Konate is still away on compassionate leave, although his return date could be this weekend. The manager will have been frustrated by the very early injury picked up by Jeremie Frimpong on Wednesday, which is set to keep him out for a little while.
Newcastle United
Rotation has to be used to keep Newcastle United competitive in all competitions that they have entered, but fans would have been fearing the worse ahead of the game in Paris on Wednesday when the team sheets were handed out. An early Penalty was saved by Nick Pope and Newcastle United had to ride their luck in the first half, but by the end of the game Eddie Howe may feel his side were a touch unfortunate not to take all three points.
It is a result in the Champions League that means Newcastle United are the only one of six English representatives that have not finished in the top eight of the Group. That means they will have to negotiate a Play Off tie next month, but for now Newcastle United are trying to keep up with the rivals chasing Champions League places for next season within the Premier League. The Magpies are 9th in the standings and 5 points behind the top four places ahead of this important fixture.
Newcastle United will be pleased with the quality shown in the 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain, but it does mean they have won 1 of the last 6 games played in all competitions. They are unbeaten in 3 away games in all competitions since losing at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, although the side have only managed a single win in 6 on their travels.
Emil Krafth and Joelinton are expected to miss out, but Bruno Guimaraes could be available having been a sub on Wednesday. Dan Burn also returned to action as Newcastle United's injuries begin to clear up.
Head to Head
An entertaining game at St James' Park ended in heartbreak for ten man Newcastle United when conceding deep into injury time in a 2-3 defeat to Liverpool.
That result means Newcastle United have not won any of 18 Premier League games against Liverpool, although they did beat them in the League Cup Final last season.
Liverpool have won 4 in a row at Anfield against The Magpies.
Prediction
Two teams that played important Champions League games on Wednesday night are meeting in the Premier League on Saturday evening and looking to build some momentum into the season.
While Liverpool and Newcastle United have progressed into the Knock Out Rounds of the Champions League, both clubs will be keen to finish in a position to return to that competition in the Premier League.
Inconsistency means both teams would be missing out on the competition if the season was to end today and Arne Slot and Eddie Howe will be hoping that their respective squads can find a way to finish the season with better health.
Both managers have lost some key players to injury at various times throughout the season and so the system has been a work in progress.
Mo Salah is back for Liverpool, which gives them another attacking option, and Arne Slot has to feel his team have been creating enough chances to have avoided landing in a 5 game winless run in the top flight. They have been much more ruthless in the Champions League, and Slot will be hoping the six goals scored against Qarabag gives the team some belief and confidence in the final third.
Liverpool will create chances in this game and this is a team that have had the better of Newcastle United over recent years in the Premier League. That includes beating them 4 times in a row at Anfield and it is difficult to ignore the vulnerability that Eddie Howe's team have shown all season when playing away from St James' Park.
Resiliency was shown in the 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain during the week, but Newcastle United also needed a wasteful display from the hosts on that day.
They could see the same from Liverpool, but the 0-2 home defeat to Aston Villa is a reminder that Newcastle United have just struggled to maintain a high level in the top flight. Last time out they were held to a goalless draw at Molineux and Newcastle United's defensive numbers are a little concerning, although the attacking threat they bring into this match will cause problems for The Reds.
It should be a game with plenty of chances in the final third at both ends of the pitch, but the feeling is that Liverpool are still a little stronger compared with Newcastle United. If Bruno Guimaraes is not able to start, Liverpool should have control of the key midfield area and they may have the firepower to get the better of this opponent and earn a vital three points in the race for the Champions League places.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United
