Our weekly Liverpool jury columnists look ahead to Sunday’s clash with Newcastle United while also reflecting on the Bournemouth win
Last Saturday, Liverpool earned their first three points of the year, and this weekend, when they play Newcastle United, they’ll be looking for another triumph.
The Reds should be extremely encouraged by the fact that they were the only Premier League team to sweep Eddie Howe’s team from the previous season as they get ready to square up against the Magpies once more.
After the Argentine’s red card was overturned, Jurgen Klopp will have access to Alexis Mac Allister on Sunday afternoon, which is a significant improvement for the midfield. Additionally, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are nearing their respective comebacks from injuries, while Curtis Jones might miss his second straight game owing to an ankle problem.
I was more than happy to return to Anfield last weekend, catching up with old friends and familiar faces I hadn’t seen in a long time and remembering routines while enjoying a few cold drinks in the beautiful sunshine. Before I mention how much I’ve missed the pies, that is! Fortunately, the Reds had no intention of ruining the fun, so we could relax and watch as further encouraging outcomes came in throughout the round of games.
With the exception of the first shakiness at the back, I believed we had strong character to rally and had a lot to be proud of. I was quietly pleased by Wataru Endo’s grit and determination, even though his entrance was difficult given Mac Allister’s violent termination. Diaz appears to be in excellent shape elsewhere, while Szoboszlai has all the makings of being a key player this season.
I’d be looking to field the same players going into a challenging away game at Newcastle on Sunday, and as a realist at this juncture, I’d take a point to build on, or even better, a repeat of last season’s massive away win at St James’ Park! The Reds are on.
Liverpool produced a confident performance against Bournemouth after a tentative start. Dominik Szoboszlai gave a dynamic, fluid performance that was overflowing with speed and power. He already has the appearance of being the player who can give the Liverpool midfield new energy. While we have benefited from having box-to-box midfielders with athleticism, strength, and speed like Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, and Keta, we have not had one in a while.
I anticipate Gakpo to be replaced by Endo against Newcastle this weekend. This change ought to improve our defensive posture. Even at this early point, we must stay up with the leaders who are already in the lead in the fight for the crown.
Last season, the Liverpool supporters were doubting everything at this time. Was this the beginning of the end after such a high? Sure, the 9-0 and 7-0 victories over Bournemouth and Manchester United offered some hope, but the assurance we felt after those performances was unreplicable.
Unanswered questions still exist, as they always do. One issue resolved today creates another for tomorrow.
Even though it’s still very early in the season, it seems like several of the weaknesses from the previous campaign have made significant progress toward being fixed. Unprecedented tenacity and resolve have emerged during the past 12 months. When facing Bournemouth, giving up an early goal would have caused the team to crumble and flail about as they attempted to get back into the game.
They managed to grind out a difficult point on the road at Stamford Bridge, which was something that the team from the previous season struggled with in other away games. This is encouraging for Sunday. Newcastle is now stronger and riding high on the petrodollar hog thanks to its renovation. A loss won’t terminate the season, but if you win all three, we’ll leave a lasting impression. Season 2017 is now firmly in the past.
We may not have had the easiest victory over Bournemouth on Saturday, but it might have worked to our advantage. In the end, despite being down a goal and then a man, Liverpool responded enthusiastically and energetically. It can’t help but be beneficial as a season goes on to be able to use adversity as a trampoline when necessary.
Dominik Szoboszlai served as a highly skilled driving force in that procedure. What encouraging preliminary evidence the Hungarian is providing. However, the Reds continue to encourage their opponents too much. There will probably be much less space for error on Sunday.
A little bit jumps off the page is the trip to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle. The Magpies, who are thriving under Eddie Howe, could pose a significant challenge. It’s something to anticipate and be prepared for.
It may be vital to know when to shift up a gear and when to hit cruise. The rhythmic sense of Alexis Mac Allister can be useful in the situation. On Tuesday, the decision to reverse his red card was extremely gratifying. Additionally, with strong foundations and an ongoing commitment to
