Newcastle United vs Liverpool: EPL Match Preview, Predicted Line-ups and Fantasy XI

Newcastle United vs Liverpool is next as one of the standout fixtures in the Premier League this weekend sees Liverpool travel north to face Newcastle United. The novelty is that Newcastle, based on the league table, are the clear favourites to win this game, something that would have been bizarre just a year ago.

Match Details:

• Location: Newcastle, England
• Stadium: St. James' Park
• Date: Saturday 18 February
• Kick-off Time: 17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PT/
• Referee: Anthony Taylor
• VAR: Chris Kavanagh

Newcastle United vs Liverpool: Match Preview:

Newcastle have experienced a dip in form recently though and their place in the top four is far from secure. They have drawn four and won one of their last five league games which is a worry for Eddie Howe and their fans.

Liverpool are buoyed after winning the Merseyside derby in style, so they may spy an opportunity to take points off one of the teams occupying a Champions League place.

Team News:

Newcastle United:

There are a fair few injury worries for Eddie Howe to deal with in the run-up to this game against Liverpool as the likes of Joe Willock, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron are all possible absentees. The latter two should still manage to start the game.

Callum Wilson and Jamaal Lascelles are also expected to return to contention, but Bruno Guimaraes is still suspended which is a major blow for the Magpies. Anthony Gordon could start the game given there are plenty of injured midfielders in the Newcastle squad.

Liverpool:

Jurgen Klopp is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to injuries as Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk and Roberto Firmino all returned to the squad for the Everton match. There is also a good chance that Arthur Melo makes the squad against Newcastle.

They will still be without Ibrahima Konate, Thiago Alcantara and Luis Diaz against Newcastle though, three players that Klopp would ideally have in his starting XI.

Newcastle United vs Liverpool: Head to Head:

Liverpool have an impressive historical record against Newcastle United and have won 90 out of the 184 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Newcastle United's 50 victories.

Newcastle United are winless in their last 12 matches against Liverpool in the Premier League, with their previous such victory coming by a 2-0 margin in 2015.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five away games against Newcastle United in the Premier League and have never secured an unbeaten run of six league games at St. James' Park in their history.

Predicted Line-ups:

Newcastle predicted lineup vs Liverpool (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Almiron, Longstaff, Joelinton; Saint-Maximin, Wilson, Gordon.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Newcastle (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.

NEW vs LIV: Fantasy XI

 Alisson; Trippier,Botman, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Joelinton; Saint-Maximin, Salah, Nunez