MX23RW : Saturday, December 29 18:28:58

How Liverpool could line up against Newcastle United

Sports Mole looks at how Premier League leaders Liverpool could line up for their Boxing Day clash with Newcastle United, which could see some key players rested.

Liverpool host Newcastle United on Boxing Day with a four-point gap now separating them from second-placed Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.

An impressive 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Friday night ensured that they would be top on Christmas Day, but they were handed a further unexpected boost a day later when City fell to a shock home defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Jurgen Klopp will be keen to avoid any complacency, though, as they welcome former manager Rafael Benitez back to Anfield.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool could line up for the contest.



Possible LIV XI vs. NEW

Out: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Joel Matip (shoulder), Joe Gomez (ankle)
Doubtful: Trent Alexander-Arnold (foot), Naby Keita (ribs)

Changes could be in the offing for Liverpool with Arsenal and Manchester City next up either side of New Year's Day, although whether Klopp opts to rest the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane remains to be seen.

Salah has been playing as a central striker for much of the campaign and so is one of the more likely players to miss out due to the presence of Daniel Sturridge, despite scoring one and assisting another against Wolves last time out.

Other fringe players such as Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne will be hopeful of starts too, although Trent Alexander-Arnold is nearing full fitness and could be in contention to return.

There are fewer options for rotation in defence with Joel Matip and Joe Gomez still sidelined, which means that Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren are expected to continue at centre-back.

Naby Keita was in the wars against Wolves and, while he is back in training and expected to be available, Klopp could choose to rest him given his side's strength in depth in midfield.

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Who will win the Boxing Day clash between Liverpool and Newcastle?

Liverpool
Draw
Newcastle
Liverpool
87.1%
Draw
4.3%
Newcastle
8.6%
Xherdan Shaqiri channels David Brent after putting Liverpool back ahead during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United on December 16, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool2017304783954
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs20150543212245
3Manchester CityMan City19142351153644
4Chelsea19124337162140
5Arsenal20115442291338
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd199553731632
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves208572323029
8Leicester CityLeicester208482423128
9Watford208482728-128
10Everton207673130127
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham198382728-127
12Bournemouth198292733-626
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton207492227-525
14Crystal Palace1954101725-819
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2046101527-1218
16Cardiff CityCardiff2053121938-1918
17Southampton1936102035-1515
18Fulham2035121843-2514
19Burnley1933131741-2412
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2024141235-2310

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