Amidst the storm of the fall out from the European Super League, Liverpool host Newcastle United in Saturday’s Premier League early kick off.
Victory for the Reds will propel them into the Champions League places, with fifth-place West Ham United hosting fourth-place Chelsea in the evening kick off.
Regarding Liverpool’s position and need for clubs around them to drop points, Jurgen Klopp said this in Friday’s pre-match press conference:
“Its a situation I don’t like to be in but we are. We are behind and we don’t play any teams around us. We need teams like Leicester, West Ham and Chelsea to lose points. We have to wait and see.”
Despite not being mathematically safe, Newcastle United appear to be safe from the relegation as they sit eight points clear of Fulham in 18th.
Regarding a planned protest directed toward Fenway Sports Groups involvement in the proposed European Super League, Klopp said: “I don’t know what will happen, I hope just a football game.”
𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 with Jürgen Klopp for today's pre-@NUFC press conference. #LIVNEW https://t.co/hTVTisIXsq
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 23, 2021
Liverpool and the European Super League
Liverpool have been in the headlines for the wrong reasons this week, with the European Super League dominating the front and back pages.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed that he is yet to speak to Liverpool principal owner John W Henry.
He said: “I don’t think it’s necessary. I was mentioned in the apology and so was the team. That was personal enough for me.”
Klopp has long been critical of more games being played at both club level and in international football.
Regarding the new UEFA Champions League format for the 2024/25 season, Klopp had this to say: “I don’t like it. We play ten group games, not six.
“The football structure at the moment is not ready for more games. We can not deal with more games. We need to make sure the quality of games is higher. We cut of training time constantly and the best players need time to train. But, nobody cuts off games.”
Last time out
Last time out, the Reds encapsulated their season in the 1–1 draw with Leeds United. Liverpool were at their scintillating best in the first half, but conceded a hatful of chances in the second before Diego Llorente’s late equaliser.
The Reds are unbeaten in their last four games, winning three.
Newcastle United won a 3-2 thriller against West Ham at St James Park on Saturday, with Joe Willock scoring the Magpie’s late winner.
Team news
Liverpool will be boosted with the return of Curtis Jones, who has missed the past three games with a muscle injury.
Jurgen Klopp said in his pre match press conference that Dioga Jota is fit and available. He further confirmed that Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips will miss out with a hamstring strain. He missed Monday’s draw with Leeds United.
Steve Bruce will be sweating on the availability of talismanic attacker Allan Saint-Maximin, who went off with severely swollen ankle in last Saturday’s victory over West Ham. Newcastle will be boosted with the availability of England striker Callum Wilson.
Liverpool vs Newcastle head to head
Newcastle have failed to take three points from Anfield in 24 league matches, spanning 27 years. In that time, they have managed four draws and 20 defeats.
December’s reverse fixture at St James Park was a mundane 0-0 draw.
The fixture may not be what it was in the 1990’s. The fixture at Anfield in April 1996 was voted as the best Premier League fixture ever on BBC Sport. The enthralling 4–3 classic opened the title race up for Liverpool and all but ended Newcastle’s dreams of winning the league.
Newcastle United surrendered a 12-point lead over eventual champions Manchester United. An entertaining game ended with Stan Collymore’s winner at the Kop, with Magpies boss Kevin Keegan slumped over the advertising hoardings at Anfield.
