Liverpool v Newcastle preview: Reds aim to bounce back on Monday Night Football
Liverpool take on Newcastle, live on Monday Night Football, hoping to bounce back from consecutive league defeats against Manchester United and Arsenal.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers suggested that his side’s bid for a Champions League spot was over in the aftermath to the loss at the Emirates.
However, with the two sides directly above them meetings at Old Trafford on Sunday, a win for Liverpool would mean reducing the gap to fourth place to a maximum of five points, whatever the result of the Manchester derby.
Newcastle, meanwhile, must look to lift themselves following their defeat at fierce rivals Sunderland last Sunday.
The loss was the Magpies fourth on the spin and they will hope that Liverpool have one eye on next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final with Aston Villa as they attempt to end that run at Anfield.
Team news
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Liverpool v Newcastle
- April 13, 2015 7:00pm
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho will miss Monday's match with a hamstring injury.
The France international came off in the first half of Wednesday's FA Cup win over Blackburn but his absence will be lessened by the return from suspension of Emre Can, although Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard must serve the final match of their three-game bans.
Striker Daniel Sturridge should be fit after complaining of muscle tightness while manager Brendan Rodgers will wait to see if Mario Balotelli has recovered from illness.
Newcastle defender Daryl Janmaat should be fit to take his place in the team despite an injury scare.
The full-back, who has been playing in central defence because of skipper Fabricio Coloccini's suspension, suffered a suspected tear to a calf muscle during the warm-up at Sunderland on Sunday, but managed to play the full 90 minutes and appears to have suffered no lasting ill-effects.
Coloccini will complete his three-match ban and striker Papiss Cisse sits out the fourth of his seven matches, but while midfielders Rolando Aarons (hamstring) and Siem de Jong (collapsed lung) have returned to training, neither will be involved at Anfield.
Opta facts
Newcastle United have conceded at least once in their last 19 Premier League games at Anfield.
Newcastle have lost four successive Premier League games. They have only ever been on one longer streak (six games in March-April 2014).
Liverpool had scored 84 goals at this stage last season, 39 more than they have currently.
Liverpool versus Newcastle games have seen a total of 130 goals, the joint-third highest scoring fixture in Premier League history and the most involving a team who have not been ever-present in the competition.
Newcastle have picked up five red cards in their last five Premier League encounters with Liverpool, including two in this fixture at Anfield last season.
Raheem Sterling has made 28 starts for Liverpool in the Premier League this season, already four more than in the whole of 2013-14.
Merson's prediction
When was the last time Newcastle won a football match? It seems like they have been on 35 points for months and months. They’ve just lost a local derby and then they have to go to Liverpool. If the results go the way I’m expecting, with a City defeat and Liverpool win, then City will be looking over their shoulders at Liverpool.
There will be only four points between them. It’s a big football match for Liverpool – they need to get back on that winning run. They have the potential to win five on the trot.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0
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