This weekend’s match between Liverpool and Newcastle will be a crucial barometer for both teams, and the Magpies’ spine may ultimately be the deciding factor.
Although Bournemouth was defeated 3-1 by Jurgen Klopp’s team last Saturday at Anfield, larger challenges still lay ahead.
One of them occurs on Sunday afternoon when Liverpool plays Newcastle, a team that is always getting better and is once more vying for a top-four finish.
The Reds could have a difficult 90 minutes at St. James’ Park if they aren’t focused, given they were only narrowly defeated at Man City the last time around.
In spite of the reality check Man City gave us on Saturday, I’m still rather upbeat.
With four of the top seven teams from the previous season as our first opponents, we have an extremely difficult start. Then, because of our Champions League commitments, we have to play twice a week, which presents a unique challenge.
After seeing some of the competition thus far, I’m not as afraid of teams like Chelsea and Manchester United as I was when I said in the preview a few weeks ago that we would find it difficult to replicate last season.
Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, and Alexander Isak are all going to be crucial, if you look at the team’s spine.
Botman With each subsequent game, I am more pleased with; I felt he was great versus City. He is a ball-playing center defender, but his positioning and game reading are superb.
Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, and Alexander Isak are all going to be crucial when it comes to the team’s spine.
Botman With each subsequent game, I am more pleased with; I felt he was great versus City. He is a ball-playing center defender, but his positioning and game reading are superb.
Since he joined, Bruno has always been crucial for us in front of him, but there is a bit of pressure on him now, and he hasn’t been at his best in 2023.
There is a notion he should start stamping his authority on more games now that Sandro Tonali is alongside him, who should be given time to settle in. This is especially true if we possess the ball for longer stretches of time.
Isak, a true talent up front, has the potential to become one of Newcastle’s greatest players in history.
After a full “Newcastle” preseason and hopefully no injury setbacks, we will see him in his first full season. Liverpool have already seen some of the talent he possesses with some of the moments he pulled out last season.
