Newcastle United vs. Liverpool Prediction: Reds Face Tricky Test

• Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-2 on opening night but it was not a perfect display

• Newcastle United were the better team in their 0-0 draw with Aston Villa 

• The atmosphere will be intense amid ongoing transfer speculation about Alex Isak

Newcastle United vs. Liverpool Odds

The odds for Newcastle United vs Liverpool can be found in the odds table below, courtesy of bet365 sportsbook. Sign up for a bet365 account with our promo code WSN365 and claim the welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose.

My -111 Pick for Newcastle United vs. Liverpool 

Back Newcastle or a draw in the double chance market, offered at generous odds of -111 at bet365. This will not be an easy game for Liverpool, who may have to settle for a point at best.

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Liverpool off to Winning Start but Question Marks Remain

It is never wise to draw hard and fast conclusions from one weekend of football, but it is fair to say that Liverpool did not have everything their own way against Bournemouth on the opening night of the Premier League season. That match, together with the Community Shield six days earlier, showed certain vulnerabilities that Arne Slot will want to address sooner rather than later.

Start with the positives. Across the meetings with Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, Liverpool scored six goals and created several more chances. Bournemouth fought back to 2-2 at Anfield having gone 2-0 down, but Liverpool’s superior firepower - in the starting XI and off the bench - allowed them to score twice more late on. Not many teams will outscore the Reds this season.

Yet the concession of four goals in two matches suggests that Liverpool could do with tightening up at the back. Against Palace, they let the game drift and allowed their opponents to take control after 55 minutes. Against Bournemouth, they struggled to contain rapid counter-attacks led by the thrilling Antoine Semenyo, who performed brilliantly at Anfield after being racially abused by a disgraced Liverpool supporter.

In his post-match interview, Slot hinted that he is willing to accept an element of risk in return for an increased attacking threat. Balance is crucial in soccer, though, and it is impossible to win the title if you are conceding two goals per game. 

The return of Ryan Gravenberch in central midfield should help to prevent opposition breakaways, and Liverpool are still considering a bid for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi to provide more competition at the back, but collectively, Liverpool will need to do more to make life difficult for opposition offenses.

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Newcastle Not Short of Motivation Against Isak's Admirers

Guehi is not the only player Liverpool are being linked with. The biggest question mark in the last few weeks of the summer transfer window concerns the future of Alexander Isak, the Newcastle United frontman who wants to join Liverpool before the market closes for business on September 1.

Isak has not handled the situation well. He has told Newcastle he wishes to leave, which is one thing, but refusing to play for the club which pays his wages is not a good look for the Sweden international. Newcastle fans are rightly furious with Isak, and while the striker may ultimately get his wish, there is no chance the Magpies will sell their most prized asset to Liverpool before this fixture on Monday.

Newcastle put the noise to one side to draw 0-0 with Aston Villa on the opening weekend. Eddie Howe must have had mixed feelings about the match. On the one hand, Newcastle were the better team against an excellent opponent. On the flip side, they failed to make the breakthrough when on top and therefore collected only one point rather than three.

It has been a difficult summer for Newcastle, who have missed out on several transfer targets while dealing with the Isak fallout. Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey have at least been added to the squad, and Howe will have been delighted with the spirit and togetherness his team showed at Villa Park last time out.

Newcastle struggled to balance the Champions League and the Premier League two seasons ago, and it remains to be seen whether they have enough strength in depth to do better in that regard this time around. But with the impressive Howe at the helm, Newcastle should be competitive.

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Newcastle Will Dig Deep and Liverpool Could Be Denied

A raucous atmosphere at St James’ Park is guaranteed on Monday, with the Isak situation having made this a grudge match of sorts. Newcastle will be desperate to get one over on the defending Premier League champions, who will have to remain calm and composed in the face of the home team’s pressure.

At their best, Howe’s side play with intensity and aggression, feeding off the home crowd to make life very difficult for their opponents. Several big sides have struggled here in recent years: Arsenal have lost their last three trips to St James’, and Liverpool could only manage a 3-3 draw at Newcastle’s home ground last term.

Another tie is a distinct possibility, but the double chance market is a better pick. At odds of -111, you are covered for two out of three outcomes - a Newcastle win or a draw. Only a Liverpool victory would not pay out.

From a tactical point of view, the Magpies have the players to exploit Liverpool’s weaknesses. Elanga, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes form a mobile, dynamic and speedy front three. If Liverpool do not do a better job of preventing counter-attacks, they could be in trouble.

At the same time, the Reds may end up having enough at the top of the pitch to avoid defeat. In our view, though, a win will be beyond Slot’s men.

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How to Watch Newcastle United vs. Liverpool

• Teams: Newcastle United vs Liverpool

• Location: St James' Park, Newcastle, England

• Date and Time: Monday, August 25, at 3:00 PM ET

• How to Watch: USA Network