Liverpool will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League this weekend when they play host to Newcastle United at Anfield, in the hope of keeping their slim top-four hopes alive.
They come up against a Magpies side seemingly in disarray of late, with little to play for on the field and mass changes expected to be made at the end of the campaign.
Liverpool
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Last month's crushing defeat against arch-rivals Manchester United has seemingly halted Liverpool's impressive charge for a Champions League spot, having followed up their 13-game unbeaten run with two losses on the bounce. The first of those, a 3-1 reverse against United at Anfield, preceded last weekend's 4-1 hammering at Arsenal.
The top four now seems as far away as ever, with a gap of potentially 10 points to make up by the time they take to the field against Newcastle in what is the last fixture of matchday 32. Throw Raheem Sterling's contract dispute into the ring, combined with news that experienced defender Martin Skrtel may also be on his way out in the summer, and Liverpool supporters have more than enough reason to be a little down at this moment in time.
That said, Brendan Rodgers has already shown this season that he can turn around the club's fortunes when they're at their lowest ebb, as witnessed in the 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers last time out. That win, even if it was by the slimmest of margins, was enough to send the Reds through to another FA Cup semi-final, keeping alive departing skipper Steven Gerrard's hopes of lifting the showpiece cup on what will be his 35th birthday.
There is also a nice run of fixtures still to come for Rodgers's men, including games against West Bromwich Albion, Hull City and Queens Park Rangers in the next four weeks. In fact, the only side left to play in the higher reaches of the division are champions-elect Chelsea. That will prove to be a huge game, no matter what is riding on the fixture at that stage, but if Liverpool are to maintain their hopes of returning to the Champions League for a second season in succession, then only three points will suffice against the Magpies.
A pressing issue for the Merseyside club this season has been a lack of goals scored, which they will have to rectify if they are to drastically improve their low goal difference. No side in the top six has found the net fewer times than Liverpool, who have 84 for the season in all competitions - 39 fewer than at this stage 12 months ago.
Right now Rodgers will simply be focusing on putting together another of those impressive runs in order to keep his side's league season alive for a little while longer yet, although in a fixture that has seen more goals than any other, this could be a good time to put the foot down against an out-of-sorts Newcastle outfit in order to reinvigorate supporters' hopes.
Recent form in Premier League: WWWWLL
Recent form (all competitions): WDWLLW
Newcastle United
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John Carver has made no secret of the fact that he wants to land the United job on a full-time basis, having been installed as manager in January following the departure of Alan Pardew. The Geordie-born gaffer is not exactly going the right way about it, with four defeats on the bounce, and just nine points collected from a possible 36 since the turn of the year.
It is hard not to feel a little sympathy for the former assistant coach, though, who has taken over a group of players who are seemingly already eyeing up a relaxing break away at the end of the season. Five wins on the bounce in October and November put paid to suggestions that Newcastle could face another relegation on the back of a poor start to the campaign, while a place in the Europa League was always out of the question.
What frustrates supporters more than anything, however, is the lack of ambition being shown by those in charge. Namely owner Mike Ashley, who seems happy to offload players to the highest bidder, without truly putting the money back into the squad. Carver this week revealed that the money will be available to splash in the summer, which could finally mean a season of relative success for the Toon Army next time out.
For now it is merely a case of ticking off the games and trying to at least push on for a top-half finish this campaign. Defeat to Sunderland last time out would have hurt Carver, and while his players have insisted that they also feel disappointed by their recent barren run of form, there is only one way to bounce back - by beating Liverpool on their own turf to give those loyal backers something to cheer about.
Victory for United on Merseyside will see them create some personal history, too, having not completed a league double over their opponents since 1993. With a mixed bag of fixtures still left to play, it is entirely plausible that Newcastle could still finish inside the top 10 of the division, which will signal a fairly decent season, albeit one without a cup run yet again.
They have conceded on their last 19 visits to Anfield, and with just one clean sheet in their last eight games, that is unlikely to change on Monday night. On the plus side, Carver's charges have given both Manchester United and Arsenal a tough run for their money over the past month, so Liverpool could be in for a tough evening.
Recent form: LWLLLL
Team News
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Mamadou Sakho limped off in the first half against Blackburn in midweek and will therefore sit out Monday night's clash, although Emre Can could slot back into the backline after completing his suspension.
Disciplinary issues have cost the Reds this term, and they are still without Gerrard and Skrtel due to their recent bans. Elsewhere, Mario Balotelli will be assessed following a spell on the sidelines through illness, but there should be a place in the starting lineup for Daniel Sturridge who appears to be fit and firing following what has been a frustrating personal campaign.
Jordan Henderson has endured anything by a frustrating campaign, meanwhile, and he will be looking to build on his recent record of scoring in four of Liverpool's last five games when he leads the side out at Anfield.
Newcastle will be hoping to have Daryl Janmaat available for selection, but the defender may not be risked on the back of his injury scare against Sunderland last weekend. Carver may simply be forced into throwing the Dutchman into the team, though, with Fabricio Coloccini completing his three-match suspension, meaning a role in central defence for Janmaat should he be selected.
Further up the field, Papiss Cisse is still watching on from the stands as a result of his seven-match ban for spitting at Jonny Evans, and while Siem de Jong and Rolando Aarons have been back in training this week, neither is likely to be ready to feature just yet.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet, Johnson, Can, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Lucas, Allen, Sterling, Coutinho, Sturridge
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Krul, Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback, Sissoko, Gutierrez, Gouffran, Ameobi, Cabella, Perez
Head To Head
This fixture has provided some real classic encounters down the years, arguably none more so than Liverpool's 4-3 victory back in 1996. The goals tend to flow when these sides meet, although the games are usually tight with just the odd goal in it.
The Reds' 6-0 victory over Newcastle back in 2013 is the exception to this rule in recent times, a result that would likely end Carver's hopes of landing the management job on a full-time basis should it be repeated.
United won the reverse meeting 1-0 earlier this season, Ayoze Perez's strike 15 minutes from time proving the difference at St James' Park, meaning that they can achieve a league double over Liverpool for the first time in 22 years if they are triumphant on Monday night.
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We say: Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle United
Liverpool will be desperate to get their Champions League qualification push back on track following a disappointing couple of weeks in the Premier League, and up against a Newcastle side without a point in their last four outings it is tough to see anything other than a fairly comfortable home win.
Daniel Lewis
