English Premier
2011-12-30 - Liverpool vs Newcastle United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Friday 30 December 2011 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Liverpool
It was a tough week for Liverpool as they once again failed to make their dominance count at Anfield as they dropped another 2 points, this time to Blackburn Rovers. It got a little worse for the team as Luis Suarez was suspended for one match after being caught swearing at Fulham fans during a recent loss at Craven Cottage and the Uruguayan striker will be out for this game.
The only saving grace for Liverpool was the fact that both Chelsea and Arsenal failed to win their home games too, so the Reds did not lose ground in the race to finish in the top 4. However, it could be quickly becoming a situation where the top 3 teams are beginning to separate themselves from the rest and the other 3 teams are fighting for one Champions League place. Liverpool are 6th in the table, 3 points behind Chelsea, but already 7 behind Tottenham in 3rd place having played a game extra.
Liverpool are just 3-6-0 at Anfield this season, scoring 11 goals and conceding 7. They come into this game having lost just 1 of their last 16 games in all competitions, but too many draws are beginning to take their toll. The Reds have drawn 5 of their last 6 games at Anfield, and they have failed to score more than 1 goal in all of those games stretching back to the end of September.
Luis Suarez is out so Andy Carroll could be partnered by Craig Bellamy, both of those being ex-Newcastle United players. Steven Gerrard was back in action against Blackburn Rovers, but will likely have to make do with another substitute appearance.
Newcastle United
After a disappointing run of form, people were perhaps beginning to write off Newcastle United as a challenger for a place in Europe. However, a 0-2 win at Bolton Wanderers, coupled with poor results for other teams, means they have moved back into contention, although this will be a real test of where they are.
Newcastle remained in 7th place in the Premier League after their win on Monday, but they moved to just 1 point behind their opponents today and only 4 points behind Chelsea in the final Champions League place. They improved their away record to 4-3-2 this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding 11.
The win over Bolton was very important as it stopped a run of 6 games without a win, during which time Newcastle had picked up just 2 points from their last 18 available. The defence had been strong in the early part of the season and, while they have kept clean sheets in 2 of their last 3 League games, they have struggled a little bit recently. The team have conceded at least 3 goals in 4 of their last 7 League games.
Davide Santon could miss out as he is suffering from an injury and he will need a late fitness test. There are no new injury worries for Alan Pardew to worry about.
Head to Head
Liverpool have a very good record against Newcastle United at Anfield in recent seasons, winning their last 6 Premier League games against them.
They have scored at least 2 goals in each of those wins, while Newcastle United will look for their first goal at Anfield in 6 games.
Prediction
This looks like a tough match to predict as there are a lot of question marks about both sides that have to be figured out.
In all the games I have seen Liverpool play, they seem to create a hatful of chances especially at Anfield. It does seem only a matter of time before someone takes a hiding here, but the absence of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard does lessen their attacking options a fair bit.
On the other hand, a win over Bolton Wanderers is not the signs that a team is ready to win at Anfield so I am not convinced Newcastle United have really turned the corner back the other way and moving back in the right direction. The defence is not playing as well as they had been, and there has to be a concern that the floodgates could open against them if Liverpool get on a roll here.
Instead of playing the match markets, I am going to have a small interest on Andy Carroll silencing a few critics by getting on the scoresheet. The big Geordie should lead the line in the absence of Suarez, and he has been getting closer and closer to getting on the scoresheet.
I am not a big fan of Carroll as a player, but he has been a touch unfortunate in games recently, particularly against Blackburn when he was denied by at least one top top save.
At 2.38 for him to get on board here, I will take my chances that Carroll does so against his former club... I can see the headlines now.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United
