MatchThe opposition lowdown: Newcastle United

Recent form

Since the beginning of 2025, the Magpies have won four and lost three of their top-flight fixtures.

Like the Reds, they were winners last time out on Sunday, though in rather more rollercoaster fashion against Nottingham Forest at St. James’ Park.

After conceding in the sixth minute, Eddie Howe’s side were 4-1 up soon after the half-hour, though shipped two more in the second period and eventually won 4-3.

Ahead of the midweek round of games, Newcastle were fifth in the table with 44 points from 26 games.

Key players

After last weekend’s matches, only Mohamed Salah had scored more Premier League goals than Alexander Isak’s 19 for Newcastle so far in 2024-25.

Anthony Gordon has supplied six strikes in the league, while Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy have each chipped in with five.

Murphy has been the Magpies’ leading creator with eight assists in the division this term, ahead of Bruno Guimaraes on six set-ups.

Team news

Midfielder Sandro Tonali is fit and available for Newcastle.

Sven Botman has been described as “close” to a return by Howe, while Joelinton is also nearing selection once more.

Jamaal Lascelles is a long-term absentee.

Previous meetings

The sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw when they faced off at St. James’ Park in early December.

Newcastle led twice through goals from Isak and Gordon, only for a Salah double late on to put the visitors ahead with little time remaining. But Fabian Schar scored in the last minute to force a share of the points.

Liverpool, under Jürgen Klopp, were 4-2 winners when they last met at Anfield, which was on New Year’s Day 2024.

What they said

Newcastle head coach Howe

“We need to play close to a perfect game. I think learning from the recent game against Manchester City would be a useful starting point for us, where we didn’t execute the aggressive game plan that we wanted. We didn’t attack enough.

“Anfield is a really great environment to play football, but not a great environment if you are not totally there. We need to make sure we turn up.

“We are going to need to start the game well – we have to be aggressive, have a threat in the game. We need every bit of our game to be functioning.”

Pre-match stats

• Newcastle have won just one of their last 27 Premier League games against sides starting the day top of the table (eight draws, 18 defeats), beating Chelsea 2-1 in December 2014 under Alan Pardew.
• Howe’s charges have won both of their last two evening (7pm or later) kick-offs in the top flight (2-0 v Manchester United, 3-0 v Wolverhampton Wanderers), as many as they had in their previous 13.
• Isak has scored 10 away goals in the Premier League this season – only Andrew Cole (12 in 1993-94) and Alan Shearer (11 in 2001-02) have netted more on the road in a single campaign for the Magpies.
• Newcastle won their first ever Premier League away game against Liverpool (2-0 in April 1994) but have failed to win any of their 28 league visits to Anfield since.