The first day of 2024 sees Newcastle travel to Anfield, with Eddie Howe’s side one of the kinder fixtures the Reds could hope for – on paper at least.
The Magpies are in wretched form, having lost eight of their last 12 in all competitions, including a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out.
An injury crisis has derailed their season thus far with Howe likely to be without as many as nine first-team regulars for the game on 1 January.
On top of that, Liverpool have won five in a row against Newcastle and haven’t lost at home to the Magpies in the Premier League since 1994.
Jurgen Klopp has had the measure of Howe in recent meetings too. With that Darwin Nuñez-inspired 2-1 victory back in August, Klopp set a record as the first ever Premier League manager to achieve 11 consecutive wins against another top-flight boss.
Here’s how Klopp could line up his side on Monday.
GOALKEEPER & DEFENCE
Alisson Becker is set to start the New Year seeking back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since October.
In front of him will be captain Virgil van Dijk, who was sent off in the reverse fixture at Newcastle back in August. The skipper should be paired with Ibrahima Konate, who sat out the win over Burnley on Boxing Day, with young Jarell Quansah getting more minutes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will continue in his hybrid role on the right, while the injuries to both Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas mean that Joe Gomez really is the standout option at left back.
Youngsters Luke Chambers and Calum Scanlon – both of whom made their first-team debuts in the Europa League this season – could well be on the bench.
MIDFIELD
Wataru Endo is likely to play his final game at the base of the Reds’ midfield before jetting off for the Asian Cup.
The Japan captain has hit his stride after a slow start. In making the teamsheet for the Boxing Day win over Burnley, Endo became the first Liverpool player in 18 years to play five games in just 13 days.
Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch, who both started at Turf Moor may well be rotated out again for the visit of Newcastle with Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones preferred.
Alexis Mac Allister is unlikely to be rushed back from injury, with Klopp well aware of his need for the Argentine in Endo’s absence across January.
ATTACK
Diogo Jota’s goalscoring cameo against Burnley was a welcome sight for Liverpool fans who have missed the Portuguese’s finishing prowess in recent weeks.
He could well be handed a start against Newcastle alongside the other Boxing Day scorer Darwin Nuñez – who ended a run of 12 games without a Liverpool goal.
Back in August, it was the Uruguayan who swung the game against Newcastle, as he came off the bench to score twice in the 2-1 victory.
Mohamed Salah will start on the right, having registered 12 goal involvements (six goals, six assists) in 14 previous Premier League outings against Newcastle.
PREDICTED STARTING XI TO FACE NEWCASTLE:
(4-3-3): Allison; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Endo, Jones; Salah, Nuñez, Jota
