Hendrick: “Liverpool’s midfield should have the edge without Joelinton” | OneFootball

Liverpool vs Newcastle: Tactical Breakdown & Key Battles in the Premier League Clash

Liverpool and Newcastle are set to face off in what promises to be a thrilling Premier League encounter. With both sides vying for key positions in the table, this match carries significant weight. The A-Eye Scouted Podcast from Anfield Index, featuring Dave Hendrick and Karl Matchett, provided an insightful breakdown of what to expect. From tactical weaknesses to individual battles, here’s what stood out from their discussion.

Newcastle’s Form: Side of Two Halves

Newcastle have had a wildly inconsistent season. As Dave Hendrick pointed out, they “come into this game having won two of the last five, having lost three of that five,” which followed a six-game winning run. That earlier run included “hammering Leicester, hammering Ipswich, hammering Villa, and winning at Old Trafford and Tottenham.” But since then, they’ve been unpredictable.

“They had that mental game at the weekend,” said Hendrick, referring to Newcastle’s recent victory, which saw them scrape past an opponent despite being “completely outplayed in the second half and clinging on for dear life.” This inconsistency has been a defining trait of Eddie Howe’s team this season.

Photo: IMAGO

Defensive Struggles For Newcastle

A key discussion point was Newcastle’s defensive issues. Hendrick highlighted their goalkeeping situation, stating bluntly, “Newcastle’s one [goalkeeping situation] is not much better than Chelsea’s, to be perfectly honest.” Karl Matchett was similarly unimpressed, questioning: “First question—can you tell me what Nick Pope was doing for that Hudson-Odoi goal?”

Defensively, Newcastle have suffered from injuries and a lack of cohesion. Sven Botman’s absence has been crucial. “He’s still kind of recovering from that ACL tear,” said Hendrick, referencing how Newcastle initially tried to manage a partial tear before it fully ruptured. Without him, Newcastle have looked shaky, with Matchett adding that Fabian Schär “is a level down” from last season and that Dan Burn is fine but not a natural centre-back.

Liverpool will look to exploit this, particularly if Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah can target Newcastle’s full-backs. Matchett stated, “They are a very changeable side in terms of performance levels,” meaning Liverpool need to attack them early before they settle into the game.

Photo: IMAGO

Key Midfield Battles

One major shift for this match is Newcastle missing Joelinton. Hendrick highlighted just how influential the Brazilian was in their last meeting: “What struck me from that game more than anything was just how they dominated us from a physical standpoint in the middle of the park. Joelinton is a big hog, and he was allowed to bully his way around the pitch, bowling relentlessly.”

But Joelinton is unavailable this time, and Hendrick believes this will be a big advantage for Liverpool, saying, “Even though Guimarães and Tonali are really good, I prefer our three to their three.”

Karl Matchett emphasised how Liverpool’s movement off the ball will be key, stating: “You’ve got to have movement. You’ve got to be able to play around them, run around them, whether you’re dribbling with the ball or just making off-the-ball movements. That’s where you’ll get joy against them.”

For Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones could be vital in winning the midfield battle and ensuring Newcastle don’t settle into a defensive shape.

Liverpool’s Attack & Predicted Lineup

Who should start up front? Hendrick and Matchett debated this at length. Luis Díaz as a number nine was not a popular choice. Hendrick was clear: “I’m not enjoying Díaz as the number nine. I don’t enjoy it at all.” Matchett agreed, saying, “I do not like it even in the slightest.”

Instead, they leaned towards Darwin Núñez starting up front, with Díaz on the left and Salah on the right. “He should be good to go,” said Hendrick, highlighting Núñez’s freshness after limited minutes in the previous game.

For the backline, they settled on Alisson, Trent, Konaté, Van Dijk, and Robertson. As Matchett put it, “Robertson played well against City, so I’d keep him in the team.”

Photo: IMAGO

Predicted Liverpool XI:Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson – Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones – Salah, Núñez, Díaz.

Prediction: Crucial Three Points for Liverpool

Liverpool’s home form has been strong, but keeping a clean sheet has been a struggle. The last time they managed one in the Premier League at Anfield was against Manchester City on December 1st. Matchett was clear: “It would be a really nice boost to get a clean sheet again after the one at the weekend and start to put a few of them together.”

Hendrick was more concerned with just getting the win: “I’m willing to put that on ice until midweek if we get three points here.”

Their final predictions:

With Arne Slot in charge, Liverpool will be looking to impose themselves against a Newcastle side that remains unpredictable. If they can exploit Newcastle’s defensive frailties and midfield gaps, they should secure a vital three points in the Premier League title race.