Match Preview: Liverpool Looking for First League Win in 2026 Against Newcastle United
Eddie Howe's side sit just three points behind Liverpool...
Liverpool’s search for their first Premier League win of 2026 continues this weekend, and while victories in Europe have kept the mood above boiling point, there’s no escaping the uncomfortable truth: Liverpool have won just five of their last 18 league matches. With Newcastle United arriving at Anfield, only three points behind and desperate to reignite their own European push, this could be one of the most pivotal fixture of the season for both clubs.
Newcastle’s Identity Crisis on the Road
Newcastle United are a good side. But that quality rarely travels with them. Two away wins in the league all season, over Burnley and Everton, paints a grim picture for a team with Champions League ambitions. And yet, as unpredictable as they’ve been, Newcastle remain within striking distance of Liverpool.
Their squad is layered with quality, and while long-term injuries to key players like Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar have hurt them, they are not short on depth in the final third. They’ve still got weapons. The ability to swap out wide players like Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and even Anthony Elanga gives them an edge, especially with Liverpool being forced into a makeshift backline.
But Newcastle have a personality split. One week, they grind to a halt against Wolves, and the next week they push PSG to the brink in Europe. Their problem has not been talent but it has been consistency and physical exhaustion from juggling domestic and continental demands. The concern for Liverpool is that when Newcastle get it right, they can be very difficult to beat.
Liverpool Must Solve Their Own Chaos
For Liverpool, this isn’t about opponents anymore. It’s about solving themselves.
The recent European wins against Marseille and Qarabag were convincing, but domestic form doesn’t care about European momentum. At Anfield, Liverpool have faltered.
It’s tempting to blame injuries, but the problem runs deeper. Decision-making in critical moments has been poor. Defensive concentration lapses have become routine. Dominik Szoboszlai remains Liverpool’s best performer, but when he’s shifted into unfamiliar roles to patch holes, the team loses balance.
Right now, Liverpool are a team at war with themselves. Even the discussion around who should start at right back, between Curtis Jones, Szoboszlai or Endo, highlights how fragile things are. When your best midfielder is being considered for right-back duties, that’s a red flag for squad depth and tactical clarity.
The absence of Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni has left Liverpool with a broken backline and a patchwork defence. Ibrahima Konate’s return is crucial, but he alone cannot solve what has become a systemic issue.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Salah, Ekitike, Wirtz.
Bench: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Nallo, Robertson, Endo, Nyoni, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha.
This Game Comes Down to Control
This game will be won or lost in who controls the midfield and how each side reacts when they don’t have the ball.
Newcastle have the tools to disrupt rhythm. They are gritty, physical and not shy to slow a match down. Without Bruno Guimaraes, their central control may be weakened, but they can still lean on a structure that includes Dan Burn and Sven Botman, whose size and power on set-pieces make them dangerous.
Liverpool must find ways to counter that control. That starts with keeping Szoboszlai in midfield where he belongs, rather than plugging full-back gaps. His driving runs, link play and relentless engine are irreplaceable, and if Liverpool sacrifice that to fix a defensive issue, they’ll lose the heart of their game.
Arne Slot has to resist the temptation to overcomplicate this. Start your best players in their best positions. Use Wirtz and Mac Allister in roles that play to their technical strengths.
And then there’s Mohamed Salah. If Liverpool are going to win this, Salah has to show up. His goal drought in the league is becoming an elephant in the room, but this is the kind of fixture where he needs to be the difference. At 2-2 or 1-1, Salah must be the one who decides it. And he can.
Score Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle United