Newcastle (A) - Wed 4th Dec 2024 (7:30pm)

[Trumo]

Amazon Prime have live coverage of this one, hence the early-ish kick-off time. Probably just as well this one starts a bit earlier, because TNT have decided to bag the Merseyside derby, which of course means we are on at Saturday lunchtime for that one.

 

Newcastle have had a middling start to the season, which means there are a fair few fans calling for Howe’s head. With the ownership regime’s appalling history with human rights, that is a sinister call. Mind you, if they do get rid of Howe (via the more humane approach of sacking him obviously!), they’ll also be getting shut of that gobshite Tindall, so there’s that. Isak has been their main source of goals so when he’s not firing (or is absent through injury, which is a possibility for this game), they have struggled for goals. Barnes has been keeping up with Isak, but others such as Gordon and Wilson haven’t yet found their form of the last couple of years. Tonali is back in the fold after his gambling-related absence, and they still have Guimaraes, but they might also have reached the point where Howe can’t take them any further. This will not the game for them to get their shit into gear.

 

Since the Saudi royal family’s sovereign wealth fund purchased the club, it has been noticeable that they haven’t exactly gone all out throwing money around like expected. People thought it would be like City on steroids or the Russian gangster at Chelsea but they’ve been more cautious. Due to needing to meet PSR restrictions, their summer transfer spending was all about financial chicanery between all the other clubs affected. So they spent a fortune on goalkeeper Vlachodimos from Forest and defender Hall from Chelsea. Forest signed Anderson for a ridiculous amount in return. These clubs did these deals only to be able to book the full (and over-inflated) transfer fee for the sale, and amortise the transfer fee for incoming signings over 5 years.

 

Anyway, enough about them. For us, we need to continue riding the recent wave that has seen us open up a 9-point lead in the league, as well as maintain a 100% record in Europe. All of that has come about through hard work and an absence of complacency, as well as being wary of what our opponents can bring. We need to be mindful of the possibility of the Geordies putting a lot more into this game in an attempt to get themselves back on track, so guarding against allowing that to happen as well as doing all the things we’ve done so well up to this point is key. It’s likely we’ll have the same squad as for the City game. Harvey returned to action for that one as a late sub. Ali, Diogo and Ibou aren’t ready to return yet. Kostas was apparently walking around on crutches today, which is a bummer. No word on when Fede will finally be ready to return. He’s been involved in training sessions for weeks now. I get that we want him to get used to Slot’s system and English football, and we want to manage his physical workload to avoid another injury, but he must be good for late cameos if we’ve put the result to bed. We’ll see I guess.

 

How have our previous managers got on in their first away fixture against the Geordies? To my mind, we generally do pretty well up there so it’s a bit surprising to see how poor we’ve been when our manager first travels up to St James’ Park. Hopefully Slot continues to buck trends like this one.

 

Souness...21/11/1993...Newcastle 3-0 Liverpool

Evans...24/09/1994...Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool (Rush)

Houllier...26/12/1999...Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool (Owen 2)

Benitez...05/03/2005...Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool

Hodgson...11/12/2010...Newcastle 3-1 Liverpool (Kuyt)

Dalglish...01/04/2012...Newcastle 2-0 Liverpool

Rodgers...23/04/2013...Newcastle 0-6 Liverpool (Agger, Henderson 2, Sturridge 2, Borini)

Klopp...06/12/2015...Newcastle 2-0 Liverpool

 

I don't ask for much. Maximum motivation, control, application, attitude and concentration from minute one. 3 points please. Get it done!

[3 Stacks]

Just like City, this is only a tough game in theory. They are dreadful at the moment and carry no threat. It's just a matter of professionalism.

[Red Banjo]

Did we have any additional players depart the ground on crutches after today? If not, slight rotation - Jones, Nunez, Quansah and possibly Elliot to come in, just to give some of them a bit of a rest.

 

Their confidence is low, so hit them early and they'll crumble.

[Anubis]

Just win.

[Creator Supreme]

4-0 to Geordie Arabia.

[Spy Bee]

Isak went off injured yesterday. Him not being fit would be a bonus!

[Anubis]

2 hours ago, Spy Bee said:

Isak went off injured yesterday. Him not being fit would be a bonus!

Supposedly an impact injury to his hip according to their forums. Under normal circumstances a bit of Ralgex or Deep Heat and he’d be good to go, but they also have him down as a player who won’t play unless he feels 100%.

[sir roger]

30 minutes ago, Anubis said:

Supposedly an impact injury to his hip according to their forums. Under normal circumstances a bit of Ralgex or Deep Heat 

 

If the physio 'accidentally rubs some on his bollocks he will be up and around tout suite

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Someone suggested that this could be "after the Lord Mayor's parade" following the reigning champions of Europe and England.  In a weird way, I think it might be good that this is an away fixture, because the travelling fans always make their presence felt.

 

I haven't seen much of Newcastle this season, but I saw them against West Ham and I would like them to play that way against us.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[Aventus]

3 minutes ago, AngryOfTuebrook said:

Someone suggested that this could be "after the Lord Mayor's parade" following the reigning champions of Europe and England.  In a weird way, I think it might be good that this is an away fixture, because the travelling fans always make their presence felt.

 

I haven't seen much of Newcastle this season, but I saw them against West Ham and I would like them to play that way against us.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

Someone suggested that the man city game would be "after the Lord Mayor's parade" 

 

We're boss

 

We're better than these cunts. 

 

Fuck them, if we're gonna lose a game I'm not expecting it to be this side of the Carabao cup match. 

[Binomial]

Turn up.

No complacency.

We win.

 

Easier said than done but that's really how it works. We're better than them in every department, we only drop points if we allow ourselves to. 

[TD_LFC]

We won't win.

[Creator Supreme]

1 hour ago, TD_LFC said:

We won't win.

This guy knows.

[bizzle10]

Lets help the the executioner sharpen his sword for Eddie Howe.With or without Isak we should have too much for them 3-1 to the reds

[diamondjoe]

0-4 Darwin brace. 

[Harry's Lad]

It's on Prime for those that don't know already. 

I just hope Open Reach have fixed my bloody broadband in time.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

6 hours ago, TD_LFC said:

We won't win.

 

4 hours ago, Creator Supreme said:

This guy knows.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/e76ff2e5-e042-4b4f-9245-0dd2aa1b297f

 

[Dapower]

I’ll accept 4 out of 6 pts this week but I’ll be pissed off but we can’t be perfect and I think this a season won’t require perfection 

We win these two we are in a good place

 

 

 

 

[an tha]

Just win.

[Scott_M]

I’m going to this. I’m not as confident of a guaranteed 3 points as some.

 

For some reason Newcastle supporters think they have a rivalry against us, so those mongrels will be bang up for it. 
 

They’ve already got good results v City & Arsenal at home this season. 
 

Last week was an emotional week for us. 2 massive games, 2 big atmospheres, 2 big wins. It will have taken something out of everybody and could be an issue to raise ourselves to go again. 
 

Same questions as previously… defence seemingly picks itself, Jones or Szoboslzai, which 2 start up front alongside Salah, do we need any other changes, ie Endo or Quansah?

 

Personally, I’d start Nunez in this. A little fresher and has a good record at St James’s.

 

Just. Fucking. Win. 

[JohnnyH]

I'm in that boat too.  Last week was wins against the Spanish and English Champions and the last two winners of the European Cup.  There is bound to be a bit of a come down.  This game worries a lot.

[VladimirIlyich]

19 minutes ago, Scott_M said:

I’m going to this. I’m not as confident of a guaranteed 3 points as some.

 

For some reason Newcastle supporters think they have a rivalry against us, so those mongrels will be bang up for it. 
 

They’ve already got good results v City & Arsenal at home this season. 
 

Last week was an emotional week for us. 2 massive games, 2 big atmospheres, 2 big wins. It will have taken something out of everybody and could be an issue to raise ourselves to go again. 
 

Same questions as previously… defence seemingly picks itself, Jones or Szoboslzai, which 2 start up front alongside Salah, do we need any other changes, ie Endo or Quansah?

 

Personally, I’d start Nunez in this. A little fresher and has a good record at St James’s.

 

Just. Fucking. Win. 

Those two late goals when we were down to 10 men were epic. Don't forget that most times we play these it turns into some kind of modern classic! 

[Scott_M]

Just now, VladimirIlyich said:

Those two late goals when we were down to 10 men were epic. Don't forget that most times we play these it turns into some kind of modern classic! 

He scored when we won there the season before as well. 

[VladimirIlyich]

4 minutes ago, Scott_M said:

He scored when we won there the season before as well. 

I'd forgotten that one.

[El Rojo]

We’re down to the bare bones in defence with Konate, Bradley and Tsimikas still out for the next while. Alisson out for a while more too.

 

Might need some innovation if things get worse. Curtis could probably play RB if required. No idea who could fill in at centre half - maybe Endo or Gravenberch?

 

I love Jota, but he’s heading towards two months out for his latest injury. He’s absolutely unreliable, unfortunately.