Final top four standings of the 2018-19 Premier League

With the Premier League title race going down to the last two matches, Saturday night feels definitive. If Jurgen Klopp can put Liverpool top one more time, it might be enough for Leicester City to pull off a minor miracle. Before that, though, Liverpool need to head to the past and take on an old rival in Newcastle United, with former Liverpool legend Rafael Benitez in charge. What happens?

Newcastle United News

The Toon are without a few of their more important players, including Miguel Amiron and Florian Lejune. Sean Longstaff will miss out, also, while Jamaal Lascelles and Ayoze Perez are both doubts. That’s some key players missing from the stating line-up, and could see Javier Manquillo, formerly of Liverpool, come into the first-team to keep out DeAndre Yedlin.

The injuries are a bit of a blow for Newcastle, but the fact that Perez and Lascelles could make it does leave Newcastle with some hope that their best defender and best attacker will make it out onto the pitch.

Liverpool News

The Reds, meanwhile, are only short on two players: Adam Lallana and Naby Keita. The explosive Guinean done a bad groin injury and looks set to be out for some time, while Lallana is injured again and has barely played this season due to it. The time for Liverpool to worry about squad depth, though, has passed: they just need to win.

Expect Roberto Firmino to start again, and also expect to see a bit of rotation up front with one of Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah to miss out. This is a huge test for Liverpool, in terms of mentality, fitness, and readiness to compete.

Verdict

Liverpool win – but only just. They are on such a good run that we cannot see them slipping up so close to the end. We don’t think it will be enough, but they’ll do the business here.