Liverpool v Newcastle United - Premier League Preview

Liverpool will go into this final game of the season against Newcastle knowing that their title hopes have almost certainly dissolved completely. If City have beaten Aston Villa, then they will nearly only a point from their final home fixture with West Ham to secure the title, and even if they have drawn then a win against the Hammers will secure the title. In this topsy-turvy Premier League season, perhaps a Villa win cannot be ruled out completely, but undoubtedly City are in a very strong position in these final throes of the season.

The Reds can still reflect on a season which has been much better than expected. But hopefully they have learned a few lessons from their approach to this campaign. When Liverpool were in possession of a 3-0 lead against Crystal Palace, I thought at the time that Liverpool players retrieving the ball at 3-0 down in an attempt to improve their goal difference was pretty hubristic.

Let`s say they batter Newcastle 6-0 in this game, and had managed to beat Palace 5-0. Highly unlikely. City would still need only a 2-0 and 1-0 win in order to secure the title. Their only hope, and it remains their only hope, is that City slip up. Liverpool were never going to turn around nine goals in two games, and now their attitude has probably cost them any chance.

This was exactly the same attitude that they showed in the Chelsea game, which Liverpool fatally lost by a single goal at Anfield. I thought they should have played a more cautious game and made it as likely as possible that they didn`t lose, especially against a Chelsea team who were always likely to play defensively. Then they would have kept their own destiny in their hands.

It`s great that they have a commitment to attacking football, but there is such a thing as shooting yourself in the foot. As I say, hopefully they have learned the lessons from this, because you have to be cannier and more sophisticated in approach than they have been if you want to win the biggest trophies. Not many people advocate Mourinho’s bus parking tactics, but let’s face facts – they work. While the Reds cannot necessarily imitate this, and nor should they, Brendan Rodgers must think about making them tougher to beat, stronger at the back, and with more balance between attack and defence in the summer.

So how will they fare on the final day against Newcastle? Well, one thing we can say for certain is that the title will not be mathematically dead, even if Liverpool’s practical chances will be extremely limited. So they will have every reason to attack Newcastle from the first whistle, and this has usually been irresistible at Anfield. Newcastle have been in pretty woeful form in the second half of the season in general, so I can’t see anything stopping the Reds in this game, and they can at least sign off the season with a victory.

Safe Bet – Over 3.5 goals (5/6 with paddy Power) Value Bet – Liverpool 4 – 1 Newcastle (14/1 with bet365)

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06/05/2014     © Frixo 2026