EPL Preview: Newcastle United vs Liverpool

Amidst the furore and outrage raised by two opposing factions in the headline-stealing biting scandal of Liverpool‘s star striker Luis Suarez, you could be forgiven for forgetting that there is still football to be played this season. Europa League-chasing Liverpool visit relegation-threatened Newcastle United, knowing that victory would be paramount to their rapidly diminishing European dreams. The Magpies are six points clear of 18th placed Wigan Athletic, but the Latics do have a game in hand. A victory over the Merseysiders would give them some much needed breathing space, and could almost certainly ensure another season of top flight football.

Team News – Newcastle United

The biggest news from the Newcastle camp is that midfield dynamo Cheick Tiote will return to the squad and starting line-up after missing last weekend’s 1-1 draw against West Brom with a hamstring injury. Papiss Cisse is nursing a rib injury, and went to France for treatment during the week, but is seemingly fit enough for the crucial fixture.

Skipper Fabio Coloccini has resumed training after seven weeks on the sidelines due to a back injury, and could play a bit-part role, but is highly unlikely to start.

First choice goalkeeper Tim Krul and defender Ryan Taylor are long-term casualties, and left-back Davide Santon might also not play again this season due to a hamstring injury. Midfielder Sylvain Marveaux is also out injured.

Team News – Liverpool

As we all know, Luis Suarez has been suspended for 10 games, an excessive suspension in many eyes. Throwing aside accusations of discrimination for a while, Rodgers must learn to adapt to life without Suarez, probably the worst nightmare for the Reds. Daniel Sturridge will take centre-stage, and will not be lacking in confidence after his excellent showing against Chelsea at Anfield.

Fabio Borini has resumed training after a long-term injury, and could feature in some capacity at St. James Park. Joe Allen and Martin Kelly remain injured for the rest of the season, while Raheem Sterling is also expected to miss out.

Preview:

The Reds have drawn their last three Premier League games, and currently languish in 7th position on the table, five points behind arch-rivals Everton with just four games left in the season. Successive 0-0 draws against Reading and West Ham United were followed by a dramatic 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea, with Suarez’s antics hiding the fact that the Reds actually played well and deserved to beat the reigning European champions, but were undone by their actions and their star striker.

Captain Steven Gerrard will look to rejuvenate his side with a captain’s display, and lead the battle against the Magpies. Their main threats will come from the flanks with Johnson and Enrique, while Philippe Coutinho might don the role of Liverpool’s most dangerous creative outlet. Sturridge will look to harass and run a shaky Newcastle defence ragged on Saturday, and will be eager to prove himself without his strike partner’s assistance.

The home side have been in dire form all season long, with the fans calling for the manager’s head as Newcastle remain rooted in the wrong end of the table; quite a spectacular fall from the dizzy heights of last season. The French contingent at the club has also failed to really give a spark to Newcastle’s season, with injury time goals and January signing Moussa Sissoko pulling the Magpies out of tight spots.

Demba Ba’s transfer to Chelsea didn’t help matters one bit, and once again Newcastle will pin their hopes on Papiss Cisse. Cisse scored a brace in the corresponding fixture last season, and we all know that he is capable of the sublime.

Interesting Facts:

- The suspended Suarez has scored or assisted 28 goals this season, 46% of the Reds total output.

- Newcastle were on a four-game winning streak at St. James Park, prior to a 3-0 defeat to hated rivals Sunderland in their last home fixture.

- Liverpool haven’t drawn four league games in a row since December 2008.

- Liverpool haven’t beaten Newcastle at St. James Park since a 5-1 victory in December 2008.

Prediction:

The Magpies will give it their all, but will struggle against the pace and movement of Liverpool, who will lack the cutting edge in the penalty box. It will be a tight game, but one that the visitors will ultimately win after overwhelming the home side’s midfield and defence.

Newcastle United 0-2 Liverpool