Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on New Year’s Day, looking to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool hit the summit on Boxing Day with a 2-0 triumph at Burnley. And they remained there after previous pacesetters Arsenal went down 2-0 at home to West Ham United two days later.
Arsenal could regain pole position with victory at Fulham on Sunday. But Liverpool would still ensure they start 2024 at the top with three points at home to a struggling Newcastle side who have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has delivered an update on the club’s injury list.
Liverpool will be aiming to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table as they prepare to face Newcastle United on New Year’s Day. The Reds became league leaders after their win over Burnley on Boxing Day and were able to stay top of the pile after Arsenal suffered a 2-0 defeat to West Ham on Thursday night.
Liverpool continue to be part of the developing title race, despite the club’s growing injury list. Both Andy Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister are key players that have been sidelined through injury and Klopp shared the latest on their recoveries at his press conference to preview the visit of Newcastle.
Kostas Tsimikas, Joel Matip and Ben Doak make up the seven Reds injury concerns in total.
Eddie Howe has admitted his Newcastle United side will need to be “near-perfect” to stand a chance of getting a result against Liverpool on New Year’s Day.
The Reds have earned wins over Newcastle in each of their previous five meetings, most recently completing a memorable comeback victory at St James’ Park back in August after going down to 10 men. There was plenty of drama when the sides last met at Anfield, too, with tempers boiling over on both benches before Fabio Carvalho netted a 98th-minute winner to leave the visitors deeply frustrated.
Newcastle’s poor form, which has seen the Magpies triumph only once in their last seven outings, has ensured Liverpool are the firm favourites to come out on top once again. But Howe is eager to avoid further feelings of pain in this fixture.
However, the Newcastle boss could be without as many as nine players for Monday’s night game at Anfield, with Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett sidelined due to injury. Sandro Tonali, meanwhile, is banned due to breaching betting rules.
