The FourFourTwo Preview: Newcastle vs Liverpool

Billed as 

A guaranteed seven-goal thriller. What do you mean it’s not the 90s anymore?

The lowdown

When Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool juggernaut rolls into St James’ Park on Saturday lunchtime, it’s probably fair to suggest Newcastle will have last season’s embarrassing 6-0 humping on their minds. 

“We cannot completely forget what they did to us,” sobbed midfielder Vurnon Anita earlier this week. But Alan Pardew’s men can’t afford to dwell for too long – they’ve got back-to-back wins up for grabs.  

The Magpies grabbed a useful win at Cardiff before the international break thanks to Loic Remy’s brace – his fourth and fifth goals in just three games. Team-mate Cheick Tiote has led the calls for the Frenchman to sign permanently, and it seems inevitable that it’ll be wrapped up in January if Pardew has his way. 

There are still question marks over a leaky back-line that’s only shipped fewer goals (12) than Crystal Palace and Sunderland, but Newcastle look in better shape than they did last season (which, honestly, is easier than a lame joke about Joe Kinnear). 

They will, however, have a Liverpool side flying high in second to contend with. The Reds have won five of their seven games this season, though admittedly against teams they should be beating, Manchester United aside.

Still, that’s better than last season where Rodgers is concerned. Daniel Sturridge is firing (six goals in seven), a “calmer” Luis Suarez is back with his best (three in two), and even Jordan Henderson has ditched the critics. "We demand that we maintain our standards at all times,” declared the Reds chief. Well, back over to you then… 

Team news

Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini is out with a groin injury, but Steven Taylor (hamstring) will return to deputise.

Left-back Massadio Haidara (knee) is also in line for a return, but Ryan Taylor (also knee) remains out.

Liverpool are still without Glen Johnson (ankle) but could welcome back new signing Aly Cissokho (ankle) and Joe Allen (hamstring) after recent injuries.

Player to watch: Loic Remy (Newcastle)

Up until recently, Newcastle fans could have been forgiven for casting their minds back to those halcyon days of 2011/12 when strikers did that funny thing of putting the ball in the back of the net. Demba Ba bagged 15 in as many matches up to the New Year, before his Senegalese partner in crime, Papiss Cisse, took the baton with 13 in just 12 games as the season ended with a fifth-placed finish. 

It didn’t last, of course. Ba scarpered for Chelsea, Cisse went off the boil, Yoan Gouffran fared no better and Shola Ameobi… well, y’know. 

But by Jove it seems Pardew has finally cracked it with France international Remy, whose recent goal-getting exploits have given Toon fans reason for optimism again. Against Hull and Cardiff he netted braces cutting in from the left, but it’s possible Pardew will use him centrally against a stronger Liverpool side, where his non-existent defensive work can be largely ignored.

The screens suggest a striker making the most of limited opportunities. If he can involve others more frequently too (he made just 16 passes at Everton), the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa & Co. might also find some joy.  

The managers

Life is rarely dull for Pardew on Tyneside, so you can bet he’ll have enjoyed the international break on the back of a Magpies win last time out. But, back to business this week, the silly sausage couldn’t help himself when questioning owner Mike Ashley’s football sense (“it confuses and upsets him”). Come on Alan, just give yourself a break once in a while. 

Rodgers, meanwhile, has been no less gushing in his praise for the confident Reds – which, to be fair, finally seems warranted. 

The duo have met on four occasions, twice last season when a 1-1 Anfield draw was followed by that Tyneside harrumping, and again in 2011/12 when Rodgers was Swansea boss. His side grabbed a goalless draw in the North East before losing 2-0 at the Liberty Stadium. 

Facts and figures

• Loic Remy has been involved in six goals (five goals, one assist) in five Premier League games for Newcastle.
• Liverpool have won 10 of their last 14 Premier League games against Newcastle (L3 D1).
• Only one fixture in Premier League history (Arsenal against Tottenham - 125 goals) has seen more goals scored than this matchup (122).
• There have been 38 Premier League games between Newcastle and Liverpool without a 0-0: no fixture has had more games and no goalless draws.
• Liverpool won 6-0 at St James’ Park last season - Newcastle had not lost a top-flight home game by a margin of 6+ goals since September 1925 (1-7 v Blackburn) before then.
• Just three English players have appeared in the Premier League for Newcastle this season; fewer than any other side.
• Liverpool have scored 10 and conceded only one goal in the first half of Premier League games this season, but in the second half they have netted just once and conceded four.
• In fact, if only second-halves counted, Liverpool would be 19th place in the Premier League with just four points, ahead of only Sunderland (one).
• Steven Gerrard has now scored 99 goals in the Premier League. He has netted seven goals in the competition against Newcastle; only against Aston Villa (11) has he scored more.
• Each of Newcastle United's last 12 Premier League goals have been scored by Frenchmen. 

FourFourTwo prediction

With Coloccini missing and Taylor (oh, come on) partnering Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in his place, expect the Magpies’ defensive woes to continue. Sturridge and Suarez are men in form – 1-3. 

Newcastle vs Liverpool LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone