Newcastle vs Liverpool Odds
Newcastle Odds | +155 |
Liverpool Odds | +175 |
| Draw | +240 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-122 / +100) |
| Both Teams to Score (Yes/No) | (-164 / +128) |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get the latest soccer odds here. | |
Newcastle United face Liverpool in a matchup that could have massive top-four implications at St. James' Park on Saturday.
Last season, the Magpies finished 11th in the league while Liverpool came just short of Manchester City for the title. Coming into the year, many of us would have assumed these two teams would have been in the reverse positions than they currently are in the table.
However, it is Liverpool who are in ninth place as things stand and just earned their first win of 2023 last weekend. Meanwhile, Newcastle are in fourth place and recently equaled their club record of 17 games unbeaten.
Will Liverpool show that their recent win was the turn of a new page, or will Newcastle continue to strengthen their final-four bid and get revenge on the only team that has bested them this season?
Here is our breakdown of the Newcastle vs. Liverpool odds, and my pick for the Premier League match on Saturday.
Newcastle Need More Creativity Up Top
Manager Eddie Howe has turned Newcastle United into the best defense in the league since taking over the helm from Steve Bruce at the end of 2021. The Magpies have allowed a league-low 13 goals and haven't conceded more than one goal during a game in their 17-match league run.
Howe, who was previously known for his attack-minded philosophy, has invested in multiple defensive assets and is certainly seeing positive results from their recent signing.
He has achieved such positive results on the defensive side of the ball by investing heavily in the defensive players and deploying a 4-3-3 formation rather than the 4-4-2 he fancied at Bournemouth.
However, such tactical changes have turned the offense completely stagnant. The Magpies have just three goals in their last five league matches and have tied 11 out of 22 games this season.
Good defense will not be enough to beat this Liverpool team, regardless of their current form, and if anyone is to know that it is the Magpies. They are winless against the Reds in 12 straight matches. Perhaps Howe will revert to the two up front strategy he built his name on to spark some attacking creativity.
Do Liverpool Have Their Swagger Back?
We saw the classic Jurgen Klopp fist pumps forthe first time in 2023 when Liverpool dismantled their longtime rival Everton in the Merseyside Derby 2-0.
It was the performance we have grown used to from the Reds over the last few seasons but we haven't seen much of in this campaign. They showed incredible pace on the counter and got stuck in defensively, playing full of emotions that mirrored their manager.
Perhaps the biggest positive and reason for their last outing was the resurgence of Mo Salah. The Egyptian netted the opening goal, ending nearly a two-month drought while registering nine shots and attempting 10 dribbles during the match, both of which were season highs.
When Salah is on, he is one of the best players in the world and forces defenses to put all their focus on him, opening up space for the likes of Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez, who are still finding how they best fit in with the squad.
The question for Liverpool and Salah now is whether they can build off that performance on the road. They have just two wins in their last 10 away league matches.
Newcastle vs Liverpool Pick
Newcastle have looked better for the totality of the season, but Liverpool and Salah seem to be finding a rhythm just in time to make a final four push and they should be able to break through for a goal.
I feel less confident about Newcastle being able to do the same, especially given how Liverpool have dominated Newcastle throughout the years, including their first meeting this season when Liverpool netted a late goal to come away with a 2-1 win.
Expect Liverpool's dominance to continue Saturday, though I am fearful of Newcastle's act of drawing. Thus, I will back the Reds with a draw no bet wager at plus-money.
