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Premier League Match Time: Newcastle Vs Liverpool

by admin

It’s Premier League match time at St James’s Park on Saturday, December 11, when Newcastle United host Liverpool in match week 17.

Newcastle are coming off a 3-1 loss to West Brom in match week 16, and the latest news is that Chris Hughton has been sacked as the team’s manager, after the game. Hughton gave the players a talking to, behind closed doors, for an hour, after the end of the game, in which the absence of Nolan and Barton sidelined with injury hurt the Magpies, in midfield.

The defence was shambolic, and Newcastle must contemplate saying goodbye to the ageing Campbell who played his 500th league of legends boost  game, and a young central defender in his place must be Magpies’ immediate priority in the January window. The limitations of their 4-4-2 formation was exposed against Albion who marked Carroll and Ameobi to good effect, thereby neutralising their threat.

Liverpool thrashed Aston Villa 3-0 in match week 16, and the result has propelled them to eighth place, and the Reds are now snapping at the heels of the top six. with their fourth home win on the trot, they have effectively buried the early season problems and looking like a cohesive unit.

In the absence of Torres, who left to be beside his wife, expecting their second child, Ngog and Babel came good, and their confidence boost gives Hodgson some bench strength for the season ahead. Likewise, in midfield, Meireles continued to impress, in the absence of Gerrard; Maxi Rodrigues is also looking settled. Reina celebrated his 198th league outing with his 100th clean slate a new record for Liverpool. Things are falling in place at the right time for the Merseysiders.

After 16 match weeks, Newcastle are in 12th position in the points table, while Liverpool are four places above them, in eighth.

In the last 14 league games, between the sides, the Merseysiders have established a dominant 6-3 lead, with five games drawn. The last match between the sides took place in May 2009 Liverpool won 3-0.

Newcastle have lost three of eight home games, this season, while drawing three and winning just two. Liverpool’s away record has been poor. The Reds have lost five of eight games on the road, while winning just the one and drawing two.