Newcastle vs Liverpool preview, team news, prediction, kick-off, channel
Watch match highlights shortly after full-time on Sky Sports' digital platforms and YouTube channel
Saturday 25 July 2020 11:49, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Newcastle vs Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday (kick-off 4pm).
Team news
Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce could welcome back midfielders Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden for the final-day Premier League clash with champions Liverpool.
Longstaff has missed the last five games and Hayden the last four, both with hamstring injuries, but the pair have a chance of being available on Sunday.
However, Fabian Schar was due to undergo surgery on his dislocated shoulder on Friday afternoon which will sideline him for six to eight weeks with fellow central defenders Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark (both ankle), Florian Lejeune (thigh) and Paul Dummett (Achilles) already on the casualty list and stand-in Emil Krafth struggling with an ankle problem.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has no new injury worries so is likely to rotate some players.
It is likely to be the last chance for Dejan Lovren, who is close to agreeing a move to Zenit St Petersburg, and Adam Lallana, whose contract is about to expire, to make final appearances.
Both were unused substitutes for Wednesday's win over Chelsea but the best either could hope for is likely to be off the bench.
How to follow
Follow Newcastle vs Liverpool in our dedicated live match blog. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
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Charlie's prediction
I watched Liverpool on Wednesday, Newcastle are probably better defensively than Chelsea though! I think what we'll get this weekend from Liverpool is a lot of changes this weekend. I think the boys are probably having a good celebration after lifting the Premier League trophy, and I'm convinced Jurgen Klopp will give some of the kids a game.
Newcastle have had a very good season, and I've enjoyed the lack of tension about relegation, but they've got too many injuries to be relied upon - I can see an open game of football here though.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-2 (16/1 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
- Newcastle have lost their last four Premier League games against Liverpool, last losing more consecutively against them between March 1997-December 1998 (5).
- Liverpool won this exact fixture 3-2 last season - they haven't won back-to-back league games at St James' Park since December 2008.
- Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals against Newcastle than they have vs any other side in the competition (101).
- Newcastle have won their final league match in each of the last five seasons, by an aggregate score of 17-1. Their last such defeat came against Liverpool in the 2013-14 campaign (1-2).
- When finishing the Premier League campaign away from home on MD38, Liverpool haven't won their final league game since 2007-08 (2-0 vs Tottenham), drawing two and losing three since then.
- The Premier League champions haven't lost their final league game in their title-winning campaign since 2006-07 (Manchester United 0-1 West Ham). Newcastle have faced the champions on the final day of the season twice in the Premier League and are yet to lose, drawing with and beating Chelsea in 2004-05 and 2005-06 respectively.
