LIVERPOOL LOOKING TO CLOSE IN ON MANCHESTER CITY
The Reds tackle Newcastle at Anfield tonight knowing a win takes them within four points of City and renewed hope for Champions League football next season. These are two sides licking their wounds at the moment, Liverpool having lost to both United and Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways. For Newcastle, it's one win in the last five games, and defeat in the derby to Sunderland left a deep scar to fans and players alike of Newcastle United.
Newcastle edged out the reverse fixture back in November 1-0 and the black and white army will be hoping for a repeat result tonight. Newcastle now just sit nine points adrift of safety with seven matches left to play after four losses on the bounce.
The Reds head into this game on bad form, but will be hungry than ever due to City's slip up once again on Sunday. Liverpool fans will be knowing only three points will revitalize their chances of finishing fourth at most, as second or third spot look to be out of their reach this season.
Liverpool will be without French international Mamadou Sakho who limped off against Blackburn in the FA cup quarter final replay. Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard serve their final match of their three games suspension and Adam Lallana has a groin problem. Rodgers will be delighted to welcome back Jordan Ibe to the line up as well as Emre Can who returns from suspension. Daniel Sturridge should be fit after complaining of muscle tightness while Mario Balotelli may well have recovered from illness.
Newcastle captain Fabriccio Coloccini and stiker Papiss Cisse are suspended while Rolando Aarons and Siem De Jong are back in training but will not make if for this fixture. Long term absentees Cheick Tiote and Steven Taylor are still out.
Probable Line ups;
Liverpool (3-4-2-1)
Mignolet; Can, Lovren, Toure; Markovic, Henderson, Allen, Moreno; Coutinho, Sterling; Sturridge.
Newcastle (4-2-3-1)
Krul; Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Jonas; Colback, Sissokho; Gouffran, Cabella, Ameobi; Perez.
Key Players
Philipe Coutinho - With six goals in all competitions, the little Brazilian will be the man to watch. He netted the winner vs Blackburn that sent Liverpool to Wembley for a FA cup semi-final clash vs Aston Villa.
Moussa Sissokho - Tall, energetic, powerful, pacey and a wonderful striker of the ball. This guy has it all. One of the best attacking midfielders when running at the defense, probably on Yaya Toure betters him. If he's on his game, Henderson and Allen will have a long night. He is the key to Newcastle getting anything out of this.
Prediction; Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
Newcastle just look out of sorts at the moment and with nothing really to play for, while Liverpool know only victory will have them dreaming of Champions League football again.
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