Rafa Benitez has just announced his Newcastle team for the crucial game at Liverpool this afternoon and it’s an unchanged side that drew with Manchester City 1-1 on Tuesday night at St. James’ Park.
That was not unexpected.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Randall, Toure, Lovren, Moreno, Stewart, Allen, Milner, Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge
Subs: Ward Skrtel Smith Coutinho Lucas Ibe Ojo
Newcastle: Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Townsend, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko (c), Perez, Cisse
Subs: Woodman, Mbabu, Shelvey, Wijnaldum, Aarons, De Jong, Mitrovic
Sissoko will again play in central midfield with Andros Townsend and Ayoze Perez on the wings – so some kind of stability is coming to the Newcastle side, with Wijnaldum and Shelvey again on the bench.
James Milner, the former Newcastle winger who left us in August, 2008 for Aston Villa, starts today for Liverpool.
Newcastle must try to get something out of this game today – and it’s the most difficult of the four games we still have to play this season.
This is what Rafa has said about this game:
“We know our away form is not the best.” “But the reaction from our players in the last two games has shown that we can improve.” “The team looks good and they are a lot more positive that they can win.”
“Manchester City was massive for the morale of the team. Now we have this confidence and we have to keep fighting and keep working hard in order to get three points.”
“It doesn’t matter who we play, we need three points. I am a professional and I am the Newcastle manager, so I will go to Liverpool wanting to win.”
“Liverpool are doing well, they are a great team with a very good manager.”
“I’ve met Jurgen a couple of times before and I know he’s a very passionate manager and hopefully he does well for Liverpool in the Europa League.”
“His team are scoring a lot of goals and playing well. It won’t be just our defense that will have to work hard, it will be the entire team.”
“We have to be sure that we stick together and play to win.
“I have a first-hand experience at Liverpool but we have to go there and get three points. It’s what we have to do and we know that we can do it.”
“They still have a few players who can come in and be very strong in attack.” “It doesn’t make much difference how Liverpool line up because it will always be a hard game for us.”
“We have to believe. I am not just happy with two good games – we have to fight until the end.”
Given that we haven’t won at Anfield since 1994 – when Kevin Keegan’s team won 2-0 on 16th April with goals from Rob Lee and Andy Cole – about one in three fans still think we can pull off the win today.
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285 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:03 PM
Comment #1Glad to see the false urine sample I provided has arrived:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36120459
mindshaft
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:03 PM
Comment #2makes sense to have same starting 11 , Shelvey hasn’t done enough to earn a spot and Gini is better as an impact sub away from home
Tiote and Colback much better at helping out defence
chicousa
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #3Still nobsign of Gouffy or Rivi on bench….gotta love Rafa! HWTFL!!!
Mister Tuff
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:14 PM
Comment #4Lindisfarne – you are to be commended in your efforts to destabilise the Reds for this afternoon.
Sterling work.
If you are an active fellow -was it difficult to sit down for a prolonged period to provide the sample.
Mister Tuff
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:18 PM
Comment #5Team probably as expected -still concerned about Cisse – been useless this season.
Hopefully Rafas’ plan to bring on Mitro after half time with a fresh pair of legs might work again.
Thump
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:19 PM
Comment #6Lindisfarne is the hero we all need.
Oleg G
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:27 PM
Comment #7A very high quality acestream for the game:
Bloodzeed (EN)
acestream://42fe51591598d905ab011a9c8339150f8391dfa7
chicousa
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:31 PM
Comment #8Long overdue for a win at Anfield….may today be the day!!! Nerves are jumping!!!
Toonacious T
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:42 PM
Comment #9Anyone know if our game is on the radio?
Wayayman
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:44 PM
Comment #10Toonacious T, commentary on either Talksport or FiveLive, can’t remember which
Toonacious T
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:45 PM
Comment #11It is live on NBC sport channel for anyone who has the Mobdro app.
Toonacious T
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:45 PM
Comment #12Cheers Wayayman.
thebionicMAG
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:50 PM
Comment #13Hey guys, here we go again. Any good links for mac?
themole
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:51 PM
Comment #14Big Games lads
http://www.gofirstrow.eu/watch/430684/1/watch-liverpool-fc-vs–newcastle-united.html
themole
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:52 PM
Comment #15that works for mac ( just use chrome browser)
thebionicMAG
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:53 PM
Comment #16Thanks mole! 🙂
Toonboy
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:55 PM
Comment #17Anyone know of any decent Kodi links??
thebionicMAG
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:56 PM
Comment #18Sky is my provider so have blocked my connection to the site! However I have ‘hide my Ass VPN’ fcuk you Sky! :
Jib
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:57 PM
Comment #19Milner leads out Lpool
Oleg G
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:58 PM
Comment #20Sorry. My mistake.
No game of ours on Bloodzeed.
This one is ours:
acestream://13139e30694a4902cc4bc8e0859d64c9851c80cb
TSN1 – also in english.
Dennis Twice
Apr 23, 2016 at 2:59 PM
Comment #21Attack Toon attack, attack!
lukes26
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:00 PM
Comment #22thank you Oleg!
Jib
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:02 PM
Comment #23Whoops
A big test of character now
davetoon
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:02 PM
Comment #24Ita nice to be excited about a game where we have no right on paper to get a point. Hopefully the improvement can continue and jeep the dream alive
lukes26
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:02 PM
Comment #25wtf
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:02 PM
Comment #26OH FFS!
Back to usual shite.
davetoon
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:02 PM
Comment #27Urrrghhh
thebionicMAG
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:02 PM
Comment #28WTAF?
manxpie
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:02 PM
Comment #29Oh dear shocking start
manxpie
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:03 PM
Comment #30Silly free kick again
ilovetoon8788
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:04 PM
Comment #31Lol. That was fast. Important today is we keep the score low. I’ll take a narrow defeat. A hammering might destroy their brittle confidence.
Corv
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:04 PM
Comment #32Normal service resumed.
reilly
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:04 PM
Comment #33toonboy. phoenix sports—vc event
county down magpie
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:04 PM
Comment #34Good thing is its right at the start of the game, we can get back into it………plus if someone could break that ba$+ard Stir ridges leg that would be a help
Average_Contents
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:05 PM
Comment #35Fcuking shite. Again.
Yo-yo
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:06 PM
Comment #36The whistle goes, the game has started, wake up, eh guys ?
mindshaft
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:09 PM
Comment #37Darlow should have done better – soft goal to concede
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:09 PM
Comment #38Dummet and Lascelles very poor for the goal and again, needless freekick.
manxpie
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:09 PM
Comment #39Lindi why didn’t ya send in a sturridge sample!!!
JDdubai
Apr 23, 2016 at 3:09 PM
Comment #40Stupid Townsend. Why push someone in the back to begin with.
Man city repeated.