Liverpool vs Newcastle United: Preview, Odds and Betting Tips - 01/01/2024 (Premier League)

The football deities are blessing us with an incredible fixture on New Year’s Day in Liverpool vs Newcastle United.

These are two teams that are super exciting to watch for neutrals and both sets of fans. They are both having contrasting seasons at the moment but Newcastle, under Eddie Howe’s management, can chalk theirs up to constant injuries that affect the team.

The Magpies have always had up to eight players injured at every point in time during the season. Theirs is not a unique case. However, Eddie Howe has not been thrust into the deep end like this in his managerial career.

There was also the small matter of Newcastle returning to European competitions that added a lot more stress to the players’ schedules. Outside veteran right back, Kieran Trippier and striker Alexander Isak, no other Newcastle player had any European football experience.

All of these have contributed to the struggles of the St James outfit this season. Having to start their year with a match against a fighting Liverpool side is more than the challenge that they would be willing to handle at this stage of the competition.

They could sink further down the table with an Anfield loss, which will put them in more familiar territory from the perspective of Premier League fans. Regardless, it is a match that promises a lot of exciting moments and even a potential upset.

It is not all smooth sailing for the Reds, who are hosting this Premier League 2023/24 classic. They have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat many times this season.

While this is a testament to their fighting spirit, it is also a testament to how unstable things are at the club. They will probably go into this game at the top of the table but Jürgen Klopp and his team will look like the underdogs.

Matches like these are tricky for punters but the risk takers will delight in the thrill of being able to make bank from a game where two teams are not stable.

Let us take a look at their form guides which will help predict how they will fare against each other in order to make proper betting decisions.

Form Guide: Liverpool

The Reds have the best goal difference in the league. 39 goals scored and 16 goals conceded is their current record. However, their goals tally is not so impressive considering the attacking talents in their ranks.

Mohamed Salah has been doing most of the carrying this season with little contributions from his attacking partners. It is safe to say that their attack is struggling.

The return of Diogo Jota to the squad is good news for the team, though. The Portuguese international has always been a genuine goal threat and he showed it against Burnley last weekend.

Liverpool have two draws and three wins from their last five. Their two draws have come against teams expected to finish in favourable spots at the end of the season, a category which Newcastle United falls into.

Form Guide: Newcastle United

Newcastle United, in their last five games, have won only once. It is their worst run this season, which makes their upcoming clash with Liverpool not just important, but potentially demoralising.

However, they are faring well in front of goal. They are joint third in the league for most goals scored.

The Magpies have also been able to earn only two draws in the league from the start of the season which is not the most exciting news if you see how many wins they have racked up.

Alongside Manchester United, they are the only other team who have lost eight games or more among teams with nine wins or more. This is a result of their defence which has conceded 25 goals to date.

They will also go into this game with the realisation that Liverpool have already triumphed over them in the reverse fixture from earlier in the season. It was a hard fought match, but Liverpool took all three points from St James Park with a 2 - 1 win.

Their form will be better if a number of their injured players return before the Liverpool match, however. This much is certain.

What to expect from the match

Liverpool are hosts this time around which implies that they will be more comfortable against Newcastle United.

Last time around, they fought to overturn a 1 - 0 lead. Two late goals from Nuñez helped them walk out of St James Park with three points. Now, they will be comfortable enough to go ahead and defend their lead.

The implication of this is that the Reds will score first and Newcastle will be left to play catch up.

Eddie Howe’s team will push their hosts to the limit as well with their style that closely resembles what Jürgen Klopp implemented in the early Liverpool years.

However, the absence of key players like Joelinton, who links the midfield and attack brilliantly, Fabian Schär, whose ability in defence is just as underrated as his ability in attack, and Nick Pope, one of the best goalkeepers around, could adversely affect them.

Nonetheless, it will be an end to end affair where Liverpool goes ahead first and Newcastle chases the match.

Betting predictions

Trent Alexander-Arnold goal or assist

After starting the season poorly, Trent Alexander-Arnold has found a new lease of life. He is still suspect defensively but is greatly improving. His role which sees him link defence and attack with quick passes and long balls always means danger for the opposing team. He also has a tendency to get into shooting positions where he lets one rip into the back of the net. He is likely to star in this light when Liverpool welcomed Newcastle United on 1 January 2024, New Year’s Day.

Over 1.5 goals

So far in the 2023/24 season, Liverpool have not been able to play against a tough team and amass a good goal tally. As stated earlier, they are struggling in front of goal with Salah doing most of the carrying. Newcastle are even better goalscorers than they are this season. The Magpies also have a better goal distribution in the team. However, Liverpool's defence will even things out in this match, meaning that they will contain Newcastle’s onslaught. On the other hand, their suspect finishing will prevent them from scoring too many goals against Newcastle. A safe bet is to go for 1.5 as the benchmark number of goals in the game.

William Hill is offering 1.40 odds for at least two goals to be scored.

Liverpool win or draw

Having done this in the earlier stages of the season, Liverpool are confident. Making a win or draw bet in favour of Liverpool is the safe option but risk takers could stake it all on the 19-time English football top flight champions to win. The reason it is sensible to make a win or draw bet in Liverpool’s favour is that they have struggled against teams who play well this season. Without the mid table sides, Klopp's team would probably be in the same position as they were last season. Having failed to win a single game against a big side, a win or draw bet against Newcastle makes sense.

William Hill is offering 1.45 for the Reds to avoid defeat.

All odds are via William Hill and all info valid as of the time of writing.

Odds could differ now.