Liverpool will aim to put the frustrations of their past week behind them when they host Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Sunday's Anfield fixture has served up some of the classic games from the English top-flight's history but the focus this season will be on points and not entertainment.
Liverpool are preparing to welcome Newcastle on the back of surrendering their defence of the League Cup in a defeat by Swansea City and having been left aggrieved by a draw in the Merseyside derby.
Brendan Rodgers will therefore be determined to take maximum points against a Newcastle side who have in recent seasons progressed past the Merseysiders as a force in the Premier League.
Alan Pardew's Newcastle finished fifth in the last campaign, three places and 13 points above Liverpool, and they have ambitions this term of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
But the St James' Park club need to stop dropping silly points and must maintain the momentum of the draw in the Wear-Tyne derby against Sunderland and the following victory over West Bromwich Albion.
If they are to do so, Newcastle will have to address a dreadful record at Anfield, where Liverpool have won 15 and lost none of their last 17 Premier League games against the North East club.
The only goal Newcastle have scored at Anfield in their last six Premier League visits was an own goal netted in this fixture last season by Daniel Agger.
Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina and defender Glen Johnson remain injury doubts for the visit of Newcastle United.
Reina has missed four matches with a hamstring injury while Johnson missed last week's Merseyside derby with a similar niggle and will be assessed before Sunday.
Long-term absentee Lucas Leiva has stepped up his rehabilitation but is still three weeks away from a possible comeback from his thigh injury.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has described star striker Demba Ba as '50-50 at best' for the trip to Liverpool.
The forward picked up a calf injury in last weekend's win over West Bromwich Albion and is a doubt for the trip to Anfield.
Newcastle will definitely be without Cheick Tiote, with the midfielder serving the second-match of his three-game ban for a red card against Sunderland.
No comments:
Post a Comment