Premier League action on Thursday will see second-place Liverpool welcome 19th-place Newcastle to Anfield as part of Matchday 17. The Reds have won seven matches in a row in all competitions, while the visitors have one win out of 16 games, looking like serious relegation contenders. The Reds need to win to stay within a point of Manchester City after the leaders beat Leeds 7-0 on Tuesday.
Here’s are storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Thursday, Dec. 16| Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Anfield — Liverpool, England
- Live stream: Peacock
- Odds: Liverpool -850; Draw +800; Newcastle +2100 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Storylines
Liverpool: Striker Roberto Firmino has returned to training after his injury in October, and he’s expected to be available according to manager Jurgen Klopp. Curtis Jones is also expected to make his return after suffering an eye injury. Backup striker Divock Origi is set to miss the match with what the manager said was a “little issue.”
Newcastle: They have officially hit rock bottom with their 4-0 loss to Leicester City, and that’s going to force Eddie Howe into some adjustments. The team is off-balance, lacking cohesion, and before long he is going to be facing some serious pressure. They’ve scored two goals in the last four games and are averaging just over a goal per game. Against a Liverpool team that loves to get forward but also hold on to the ball, Howe’s side is going to need a few assists from lady luck to have a chance at getting even a point.
Prediction
Mohamed Salah scores twice in the first half and the Reds cruise to another easy victory. Pick: Liverpool 4, Newcastle 0