Liverpool v Newcastle United - Match Preview

This evening's televised meeting of the two clubs currently occupying 6th and 7th place in the Premiership will reunite players and management staff currently on the books at Liverpool with their former club, as the North East's current top team arrive at Anfield on the back of a by-the-books victory over Bolton on Boxing Day. Kenny Dalglish, Steve Clarke, Andy Carroll, Jose Enrique and Craig Bellamy will all know exactly what to expect from Newcastle's vociferous travelling fanbase with 2,000 Geordies set to arrive on Merseyside ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off. History would have this one going Liverpool's way, and a statistical break-down of past meetings makes for damning reading if you're of a black and white inclination. The Toon haven't scored a goal at Anfield for an astonishing 518 minutes, or 7 years in real terms since Patrick Kluivert scored back in December 2004 when Patrick Kluivert found the net in a 3-1 victory for Liverpool. Even more worryingly for Newcastle, every one of the last 16 goals scored in this fixture, have all gone in Newcastle's goal. But then statistics only conclusively prove what happened in the past, and aren't always a clear-cut indication of what will be. Because Liverpool's home form this season has not been as impressive as it has in former years: they might not have been beaten since last season - by Spurs in the final match - but form of six draws and three wins from nine games does not make for Championship contention, and Kenny Dalglish will certainly be looking for more cut-throat performances at home from his team heading into 2012. Something Liverpool will also need to address is their worrying lack of goals - both Bolton and Blackburn have scored more this season, and they're in the bottom two positions in the league. The absence of 5 goal Suarez won't aid confidence, but Andy Carroll has hit the woodwork a number of times this season, and there's always that possibility of having a blinder against your former club to throw into the equation. Without Steven Taylor, Newcastle's defence has leaked a lot of goals, but the reappearance of Mike Williamson, who will have the aerial ability to give Carroll some problems, and the continued form of club captain Fabricio Coloccini will make a strong performance from the big, long-haired Geordie a necessity if he wants to take this chance with both hands. Newcastle's recent form has been in contradiction to early season form, with key injuries pulling the wheels off for Alan Pardew in the run up to Christmas, but the form of 14 goal top-scorer Demba Ba, who has been a revelation so far this term, has remained a positive. He will be looking to continue that form, alongside wither regular partner Leon Best, who has suffered a dip in form recently, or French magician Hatem Ben Arfa, who has shown in the past two games what he can do from the bench, and looks to be closing in on full fitness. Newcastle fans will want to see Ben Arfa unleashed at Anfield, with Best looking decidedly off colour, and on current form it should be the little Frenchman who gets the nod for the starting eleven. Regardless of form, all outsiders and neutrals will no doubt be hoping for another high-scoring classic. For Liverpool and Newcastle United fans, three points will do, no matter how they come, with Liverpool able to move above Arsenal into fifth with a win, and Newcastle looking to leap-frog tonight's opponents into sixth.

Team News

Newcastle: For the North Easterners, long term absentees Steven Taylor and Sylvain Marveaux continue to miss out, with Danny Guthrie, Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger all joining them on the treatment table. But there is good news, as Demba Ba's knock against Bolton looks to have left no permanent damage, and Mike Williamson came through the full 90 minutes without reaction to the ankle injury that had kept him out for months. Italian full-back Davide Santon should also be available after picking up an injury in the first half against West Brom and former Everton player Dan Gosling is available once more after serving a three match suspension. Liverpool: Following his acceptance of his latest ban for improper conduct, Liverpool will be without striker Luis Suarez, but will have captain Steven Gerrard back, probably on the bench after the England midfielder returned from his latest two-month absence on Boxing Day. Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy and Jose Enrique are all in contention to play against their former club.

Predicted Line-ups

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Downing, Adam, Henderson, Maxi, Bellamy, Carroll. Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, R Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Ba. Referee: Lee Probert

Prediction

1-1. Demba Ba is too much of a threat for Newcastle not to score these days, but the draw-heavy home form of Liverpool and the presence of the giant Geordie in red up front should make this one an even affair. I'd like to say 3-4, with Newcastle avenging one of those entertaining defeats of the 90s, but the odds are against it...