Barclays Premier League preview: Newcastle United – Liverpool FC
The Magpies management living a fantasy world
Mike Ashley managed to shock the entire Premier League when manager Chris Hughton was given the boot amidst controversial circumstances. The 51-year-old was apparently axed due to lack of experience at the highest level. Keeping in mind the fact that Hughton
earned The Toons immediate promotion and defeated the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in their return season, the decision comes as an absolute shock.
Newcastle United, for their huge fan base, were never a Premier League top half club and Mike Ashley is delusional if he thinks his squad can better the performances Newcastle United delivered with their previous manager. Shocking still is the decision of
appointing Alan Pardew – a manager who has only won a football League trophy with Southampton in his 12-year long managerial career.
Newcastle fans have declared that they will demonstrate against the appointment before the game and only a victory will make the debut noteworthy for Pardew.
Hodgson looking for consistency
Hodgson has had little luck at Anfield following Rafa Benitez departure. Even though Liverpool made a horrible start to their season, Hodgson’s men sit in eighth spot in the league and a top four finish is still not out of question.
The biggest issue plaguing the manager is the team’s inability to register back-to-back victories. Hodgson’s men would defeat the likes of Chelsea one match day only to lose out to much inferior teams. Stoke City and Blackpool are hardly noteworthy opponents
yet Hodgson’s men managed to drop all the points against them.
Injuries and poor form plaguing key players such as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres hasn’t helped The Reds either. However, Anfield based outfit can’t dwell on the past and Hodgson will have to deliver three points against a Newcastle United going through
a transition.
Team News
Newcastle United
Alan Pardew will have to do without the services of Kevin Nolan, Steve Harper, Ryan Taylor, Hatem bin Arfa and Dan Gosling for some time as all the aforementioned players are out injured. To make things worse for the newly appointed manager, Fabricio Coloccini
and Mike Williamson are suspended and the tactician will have to start a make-shift centre back pairing for this game.
Liverpool FC
Jamie Carragher will not feature for the next few months with a serious injury while Roy Hodgson has decided against risking Captain Steven Gerrard and defender Daniel Agger as the two are nearing peak fitness. In the absence of Agger and Carragher, Hodgson
will start Kyrgiakos and Skrtel in the heart of the defence.
Key Players
Joey Barton
The former Manchester City midfielder has been a revelation this season and Newcastle United owe much to this soldier for their current league position. The midfielder will return to first team duties following his suspension and it will be interesting to
see how he features under a new manager.
Fernando Torres
El Nino has had a season to forget thus far with poor form and injuries consistently hampering his game. However, the Spaniard has rediscovered some of his form and will look to find the back of the net in the Premier League after more than a month.
Prediction
Even with a host of key players unavailable, Liverpool are a superior outfit compared to a modest Toons outfit. Fernando Torres and co will be out to spoil Pardew debut and they will do just that with a 2 – 1 away victory.
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