Liverpool face another test in their bid to be Premier League champions when Newcastle United arrive at Anfield on New Year’s Day.
The Reds returned to winning ways on Boxing Day after successive league draws, beating Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota. It was a game fraught with more VAR controversy, but Jurgen Klopp’s side secured three valuable points regardless.
Newcastle will prove a trickier test than the Clarets, although their form leaves a lot to be desired. The Magpies have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions, while they haven’t tasted victory at Anfield since 1995.
With a few injuries to manage ahead of Monday’s encounter, here is how Jurgen Klopp could line his Liverpool side up.
GK: Alisson – The best goalkeeper in the Premier League, the Brazilian is simply a set-and-forget for Klopp.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – The full-back has wowed with some stunning individual performances recently and looks incredibly comfortable in his quarterback role. The key to stopping the Reds going forward is halting Alexander-Arnold.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – Young Jarell Quansah stepped in and performed admirably against Burnley, but Konate should return against Newcastle. His pace and experience will be handy up against the likes of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool’s captain has been back to his imperious best this season, producing consistently graceful performances. Like Konate, he will need to be on high alert against some tricky forwards.
LB: Joe Gomez – With Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson sidelined, Gomez will feature at left-back for the foreseeable future. The Englishman has looked more comfortable in the full-back positions this season and will have to keep tabs on Miguel Almiron this Monday.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai – While still yet to rediscover the electric form he exhibited at the beginning of the campaign, the Hungarian remains a crucial player for the Reds in and out of possession.
CM: Wataru Endo – One of the budget signings of the season, Endo has slotted into the defensive midfield role wonderfully at Anfield. Unfortunately for Klopp, he is soon to jet off to the Asian Cup, Newcastle being his final test for Liverpool before his international commitments.
CM: Curtis Jones – Liverpool have looked significantly more balanced with Jones in midfield this season and the 22-year-old should start against Newcastle as the Reds look to dominate central areas.
RW: Mohamed Salah – Similarly to the likes of Alisson and Van Dijk, Salah is simply undroppable. This will also be the Egyptian’s final game for the Reds before the Africa Cup of Nations and he will want to start the new year on a high at Anfield.
ST: Darwin Nunez – Broke his drought against Burnley last time out with a brilliant finish from the edge of the area. The Uruguayan bagged a brace against Newcastle in the reverse fixture this season and will undoubtedly be involved at Anfield – for good or bad.
LW: Diogo Jota – The Portuguese forward scored on his return from injury against Burnley and Liverpool have sorely missed his clinical touch. Now fully fit, Jota should get the nod on the left-hand side ahead of Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz.
