Soccer <\/p>\n
Verdict: Draw<\/strong><\/p>\n Best odds: 29\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n Bookmaker: ZetBet<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Anfield plays host to a Saturday\u2011night Premier League showdown between Liverpool and Newcastle United, with both clubs desperate to revive their faltering bids for a top\u2011four finish. The Reds remain without a league win in 2026, while Newcastle arrive still feeling the impact of Bruno Guimar\u00e3es\u2019 absence in last weekend\u2019s loss to Aston Villa.<\/p>\n Liverpool\u2019s early\u2011season reputation for snatching late victories has brutally reversed. Their 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth last weekend was another painful example, as the Reds conceded a stoppage\u2011time winner for the third time in this Premier League campaign\u2014more than in any previous season.<\/p>\n Having fought back from 2-0 down only to fall to Amine Adli\u2019s injury\u2011time strike, Liverpool saw their 13\u2011match unbeaten run collapse, extending their winless league streak to five matches and dropping them to sixth place. Not since 1954 have the Reds opened a calendar year with six straight league games without a win\u2014the same season they suffered their last relegation.<\/p>\n However, midweek brought a welcome release of pressure. Liverpool dismantled Qarabag 6-0 to cruise into the Champions League last 16, extending their home unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games and reminding supporters what this team is capable of at their best.<\/p>\n In yet another defensive setback, Jeremie Frimpong limped off after four minutes against Qarabag with a suspected hamstring injury and is ruled out for Saturday. He may be one of up to five defensive absentees: Giovanni Leoni (ACL) and Conor Bradley (knee) are out, Alexander Isak remains sidelined, and both Ibrahima Konat\u00e9 (personal) and Joe Gomez (head) are unlikely to return in time.<\/p>\n If Curtis Jones fails to recover from illness, Arne Slot may be forced to hand Calvin Ramsay his first Premier League start of the season or redeploy Dominik Szoboszlai at right\u2011back, with Wataru Endo stepping into midfield.<\/p>\n Newcastle\u2019s situation away from home could not be more different. Last weekend\u2019s defeat to Aston Villa highlighted how crucial Guimar\u00e3es is to Eddie Howe\u2019s side. Before that fixture, the Magpies had failed to win any of the eight Premier League matches he had not started since 2022. That streak reached nine as goals from Emiliano Buend\u00eda and Ollie Watkins condemned Newcastle to another damaging defeat.<\/p>\n The Magpies are now winless and goalless in their last two Premier League games, sitting ninth as one of four clubs locked on 33 points, five behind fourth\u2011placed Manchester United.<\/p>\n There was encouragement in midweek, though, as Newcastle secured a valuable 1-1 draw away to Champions League holders PSG, booking a place in the knockout round playoffs. That result also extended their unbeaten run away from home in all competitions to three games.<\/p>\n However, their season\u2011long travel woes persist: Newcastle have managed just three away wins across all competitions, and their 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in August\u2014decided by Rio Ngumoha\u2014marked an extraordinary 18th straight Premier League meeting without beating the champions. At Anfield, the drought is even starker: Newcastle have failed to win in 29 consecutive league visits.<\/p>\n Guimar\u00e3es returned to the matchday squad in Paris after recovering from an ankle issue, although he remained an unused substitute. Joelinton is unavailable for several weeks with a groin injury, joining Tino Livramento (thigh), Emil Krafth (knee) and Fabian Sch\u00e4r (ankle) on the sidelines.<\/p>\n Jacob Murphy returned to the bench in midweek following a hamstring issue, but Howe is expected to favour the returning Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon in the wide roles\u2014both of whom have past ties to Liverpool.<\/p>\n Liverpool have dominated this fixture for well over a decade. The Reds are unbeaten in 18 straight league games against Newcastle and have not lost at home to the Magpies in 29 Premier League meetings. Newcastle\u2019s last victory at Anfield came all the way back in 1994. Earlier this season, Liverpool edged a dramatic 3-2 win at St James\u2019 Park, continuing their long\u2011standing upper hand.<\/p>\n Eddie Howe faces a tactical dilemma: stick with the three\u2011man defence that held firm in Paris, or adopt a more aggressive setup to exploit Liverpool\u2019s injury\u2011ravaged back line.<\/p>\n Regardless of the approach, Newcastle\u2019s ongoing away struggles make a famous victory unlikely. Yet Liverpool\u2019s goalscoring slump\u2014their lowest Premier League goals\u2011per\u2011game return since 2011\u201112\u2014suggests the wait for their first league win of 2026 may not end easily.<\/p>\n A tense and competitive encounter seems inevitable.<\/p>\n Verdict: Draw<\/strong><\/p>\n Best odds: 29\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n Bookmaker: ZetBet<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nLiverpool<\/h3>\n
Team News<\/h4>\n
Newcastle<\/h3>\n
Team News<\/h4>\n
Head\u2011to\u2011Head<\/h3>\n
Conclusion<\/h3>\n