Liverpool look to respond to their surprise draw with West Brom when they travel to Newcastle on Wednesday. Jake Pearson looks at the betting.
Football betting tips: Newcastle v Liverpool
1pt Newcastle (+2) handicap at evens
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Newcastle v Liverpool
- 20:00 GMT kick-off on Amazon Prime Video
- Match Odds: Home 19/2 | Draw 19/4 | Away 1/4
Steve Bruce’s Newcastle will certainly need to have their wits about them as Liverpool visit St James’ Park on Wednesday, the Reds arriving on the back of an extremely frustrating 1-1 draw with Sam Allardyce’s West Brom.
Liverpool were completely dominant against the Baggies, but they couldn’t find that all-important second goal and were ultimately left to rue their missed chances as Semi Ajayi headed the visitors level in the 82nd minute.
There is nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal, so the cliché goes, but are Liverpool really that wounded, and is there actually any evidence to prove that theory when it comes to football?
People will be expecting a reaction from Jurgen Klopp’s men, but Klopp will surely just be expecting his team to go about their business as usual.
However, it has not exactly been business as usual this season, with Liverpool already failing to win as many times this term as they did throughout the entirety of 2019/20.
Liverpool have been hugely impressive at Anfield this season, winning seven of their eight matches and stretching their unbeaten home record to 67 games, but their away form has left a little to be desired. They dropped only 13 points on the road last season, but have already let 11 slip in just seven games this term, winning just twice.
This is the shortest price Liverpool have been away from home all season, and that seems a little harsh on Newcastle, who are one of the teams often overpriced by bookmakers.
Steve Bruce has come in for a fair amount of flak for the way Newcastle have been playing over the last few weeks, a cup exit to Brentford prior to Christmas causing a big uproar on Tyneside, but the criticism of his methods does seem a little severe.
Leeds, for example, have been applauded for the start they have made to the season, but are only two points ahead of Newcastle having played a game more, while Brighton, a team who constantly come in for praise for their style of play, currently trail the Magpies by five points.
They are undoubtedly a big club, and their fans want to see them competing much more than they currently are, but Bruce himself has recently admitted that his remit was to keep the Magpies in the Premier League. Like him or not, he is well on his way to doing that – his team currently sit seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Newcastle have struggled in their last two away matches, losing 5-2 at Leeds and 2-0 at Manchester City, but have been performing reasonably well at home, losing just one of their last four at St James’ Park, picking up seven points.
Still without Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles, but possibly with fit-again Callum Wilson, Bruce is far from the only manager with injury woes; Joel Matip was the latest in a long line of players on the Liverpool treatment table.
Undoubtedly the Reds should be favourites for this match, but 1/4 is just too short for a team who have failed to win five of their seven away matches this season.
If you are feeling brave, it may be worth backing Newcastle or Draw to small stakes, but even that is hard to argue for given the gulf in class between these sides, and for that reason, we are siding with Newcastle at +2 in the handicap market at even-money.
For those not quite up to speed with handicap betting, this bet will win if Liverpool fail to win by two or more goals; that has occurred in 10 of their 15 matches this season. A Newcastle win or a draw will see our bet land too.
Score prediction: Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool (Sky Bet odds: 7/1)
Newcastle v Liverpool best bets
Opta facts
- Newcastle are unbeaten in their last four Premier League home games against reigning champions (W2 D2), since a 0-2 loss against Manchester City in August 2014.
- Newcastle have won their final league game in just two of the last 17 calendar years (D3 L12), beating Everton 3-2 in 2014 (Premier League) and Nottingham Forest 3-1 in 2016 (Championship).
- Liverpool have conceded 20 Premier League goals in 15 matches this season – they didn’t concede their 20th goal until the 28th match in their title-winning 2019/20 campaign.
Odds correct at 14:00 GMT 29/12/20
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