WILL the woes of Newcastle continue on Sunday as they host Liverpool? Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) gives us his best bets.
Newcastle v Liverpool | Sunday 16:00 | Sky Sports 1
Two managers (who've met before in the Bundesliga in 2011) come into this fixture in completely different situations. Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is under severe pressure and second favourite in the sack race while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is seeing babies named after him in Merseyside after a super start to his tenure at the club.
Backing sides away from home at 8/13 makes me feel queasy and Liverpool, in recent years, have made a habit of letting down punters at daft prices but it's hard to take them on here.
Newcastle have won just two of their 14 Premier League matches and lost the last two 8-1 on aggregate to Leicester and Crystal Palace. The players look uneasy playing in front of their fans and overall it's a sorry mess at the club.
Liverpool weren't doing that bad when Klopp was recruited in October but since the German came in he's lost only one match and won eight of his last nine in all competitions.
The manner of a few of those wins have been jaw-dropping. The 3-1 win at Chelsea, the 4-1 demolition of Man City and of course the 6-1 destruction of Southampton midweek.
There's no doubt they're the most confident side in the league at the moment and a win here would move them within six points of Leicester and three of Manchester City. Title contenders? You bet in this weak league!
Just as other contenders are seeing their injury problems mount some of Liverpool's key players are returning at just the right time with Jordan Henderson and (for how long who knows) Daniel Sturridge back in the mix up.
One weakness at Anfield is their propensity to concede in games. Indeed in four of their last five games Liverpool have leaked at least one goal and that gives Newcastle hope.
With the vulnerabilities of McClaren's side and the exciting potential of Klopp's goals look on the menu here. Overall I think Liverpool will be too strong in what could be a goal-laden game.
Newcastle have scored 11 of their 14 league goals on home turf this season while we know their defence is weak. Add the firepower of Liverpool into the mix (13 goals in their last four matches) and you have potential.
I'll get involved with a Liverpool win in an Over 2.5 Goals game at 7/5 with Paddy Power. Bring on the goals!
Best Bets
Newcastle v Liverpool – Liverpool to win and Over 2.5 Goals (7/5 Paddy Power)
7/1 Liverpool to beat Newcastle (Coral)
You can back Liverpool at 7/1 on Sunday when you join Coral before kick off in their match against Newcastle.
