Newcastle - Liverpool 25-08-25

What was originally a real treat of a football match has become even more intense. Why? Yes, Alexander Isak. The Swede is tearing Newcastle apart, and everyone is now wondering how the visa will end when August comes to an end. Inside Newcastle, there is a divided view on the possible transfer, and both players and coaches are in both camps. Oral agreements are said to have been broken, and the star striker is trying to strike his way into a transfer. Not elegant, but more and more may indicate that he will get what he wants. Liverpool is waiting with a reinforced bid, while Newcastle, for its part, is offering all the strikers in Europe. The coming week will be interesting.

The match will probably be both fast-paced and tough. Both teams want the three points, and there is probably a little extra motivation in the pot for the home team as a bigger club once again tries to steal your best player. There will be many duels, and we imagine a match where it will swing from start to finish. Shouldn't that mean some goals then?

Newcastle – The transfer window is slowly but surely closing again

Time is running out. If Isak is to get his dream transfer, Newcastle must sign two strikers in just over a week. Wilson must be replaced, and Isak must also get his successor. The latest news now is that our own Strand Larsen is on the way, and if that is true, there may be an acceleration in Isak's precarious situation as well. The only problem is that Newcastle needs something more. Just one attacking player will not be enough, so the market must be combed for goal guarantees. And fast. Not particularly favorable conditions to start the season like this.

The first match was a little better than expected, however. Newcastle were at their best away against ten-man Aston Villa, and could easily have gone home with all three points. You stack what you have, and players like Barnes and Gordon were given key roles. That will be the case again at home against the reigning champions. The choices are few, and you have to look to the same types to get the ball in the net. Gordon, for his part, usually delivers the goods against Liverpool, and it will not be surprising if he gets on the scoresheet again.

In the middle, the home team has its strongest cards. A trio of Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes is no joke. You can literally feel the bruises up the shinbone. This will be very hard to grind down, and something tells me that it will not be given at the doors this Monday night. A little tip might be to look for the odds on a yellow card for Joelinton as kick-off approaches. The Brazilian's style of play and temperament indicate that he will probably sniff at the card throughout the match.

Newcastle must try to get Barnes and Elanga involved against Liverpool's full-backs. If they can do that, and Gordon gets to run in the back room, this could be a pleasant evening for the home team. The only challenge is that the visitors come up with several capable attacking cards themselves. The balance between offensive threat and defensive structure will again be alpha and omega. Because these are matches that can quickly take off. History is full of goal-rich matches between the teams, and it will probably not surprise anyone if this one also joins the list.

Liverpool – The boat barely held up in the premiere

The champions initially looked strong in the opening match against Bournemouth. Goals from Ekitike and Gakpo ensured a recipe-like 2-0 lead, and everything looked rosy in the Beatles city. But then they let up a few percentage points, and Semenyo seized the opportunity. Two quick goals, and the temperature in the stands changed. Fortunately for the home team, an unlikely hero emerged in Chiesa, and then Salah couldn't help himself either, he just has to score in the season premiere that man. 4-2 ensures peace of mind, even if a few questions arose.

The first is the full-backs. Frimpong, who has now been injured for three weeks, had a completely even game. Kerkez at the opposite full-back played a rather weak game, and did not hit either the ignition level or the positioning. Not so strange in his first games, but the fact that there has been a little extra drill in training this week should not be ignored. The absence of Gravenberch did not help either, but Slot can welcome the important Dutchman back into the starting lineup against Newcastle.

Assuming Mac Allister is also a given in the middle, we finally get the answer to what the Liverpool boss chooses to do with Szoboszlai and Wirtz. With Gakpo's fine form, Ekitike's scoring, and the fact that Salah is Salah, one of the two midfielders has to find a place on the bench. It would be surprising if Wirtz doesn't start, so the Hungarian general will probably have to accept taking a break. It probably won't be particularly popular.

Liverpool stinks of goals. A little alarming for the Reds, it stinks a little both ways. We can't help but try to exploit the little uncertainty they experience in defense today, and look towards a match that contains big chances at each end. The guests will probably be more compact with Gravenberch in front of Konate and van Dijk, but still, there are a few uncertainties present. That Howe focuses on the home team's wings to put pressure on Liverpool's back pair will surprise no one.

Conclusion – Another 4-3 game?

In the 90s it feels like these two played 4-3 every time they met. I remember one match in the mid-90s in particular where the game was back and forth, and the two of them hammered each other like two heavyweight boxers. Fowler and Collymore each scored two for the Reds, while Ferdinand, Ginola and Asprilla scored the goals for the whites and blacks. If I remember correctly, history repeated itself the following season, with another 4-3 triumph for the Reds. And what a few matches it was! The temperature has always been high when these two are on opposite sides of the pitch.

Will we get more of the same this Monday? Well, maybe not seven goals, but I think both will score. Liverpool will go for it, while Newcastle will show that you can't come here and take advantage of their players. There will be a lot of duels, and there is some indication that there will be some cards and potential game-deciding involvements as well. Are we talking about an entertaining game of penalties during the 90?

We are betting that the match will feature at least three goals, and that both sides will contribute as our main recommendation. The background is a heroic home team, an away team with some defensive challenges, and a history rich in goals. Even though this is only the second match of the season, there is a lot at stake, and it would be interesting to know which team Alexander Isak is with. One thing is for sure, he will not be found at the stadium this evening.

England at 21:00: Newcastle - Liverpool: Both teams score + Over 2.5 goals (1.80)

Alternative game

England at 21:00: Newcastle - Liverpool: Over 1.5 goals to Liverpool (1.77)

England at 21:00: Newcastle - Liverpool: Penalty kick awarded (2.90)