MX23RW : Friday, November 22 13:41:03| >> :60:3411:3411:
[monks data]
Attendance: 53,318
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 19
Dec 26, 2018 at 3pm UK
 
Newcastle logo

4-0

Lovren (11'), Salah (47' pen.), Shaqiri (79'), Fabinho (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)

How Liverpool could line up against Newcastle United

Sports Mole looks at how Premier League leaders Liverpool could line up for their Boxing Day clash with Newcastle United, which could see some key players rested.

Liverpool host Newcastle United on Boxing Day with a four-point gap now separating them from second-placed Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.

An impressive 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Friday night ensured that they would be top on Christmas Day, but they were handed a further unexpected boost a day later when City fell to a shock home defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Jurgen Klopp will be keen to avoid any complacency, though, as they welcome former manager Rafael Benitez back to Anfield.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool could line up for the contest.



Possible LIV XI vs. NEW

Out: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Joel Matip (shoulder), Joe Gomez (ankle)
Doubtful: Trent Alexander-Arnold (foot), Naby Keita (ribs)

Changes could be in the offing for Liverpool with Arsenal and Manchester City next up either side of New Year's Day, although whether Klopp opts to rest the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane remains to be seen.

Salah has been playing as a central striker for much of the campaign and so is one of the more likely players to miss out due to the presence of Daniel Sturridge, despite scoring one and assisting another against Wolves last time out.

Other fringe players such as Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne will be hopeful of starts too, although Trent Alexander-Arnold is nearing full fitness and could be in contention to return.

There are fewer options for rotation in defence with Joel Matip and Joe Gomez still sidelined, which means that Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren are expected to continue at centre-back.

Naby Keita was in the wars against Wolves and, while he is back in training and expected to be available, Klopp could choose to rest him given his side's strength in depth in midfield.

ID:345100: cacheID:345100:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4746:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Xherdan Shaqiri channels David Brent after putting Liverpool back ahead during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United on December 16, 2018
Read Next:
How Liverpool could line up against Wolves
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
19-24
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!