Newcastle United host Liverpool in the Premier League this afternoon.
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he is still concerned about Newcastle United, and is backing Liverpool to beat them 2-0 this afternoon.
The Magpies lost 1-0 away at Brighton and Hove Albion in a hugely disappointing display last weekend, with Rafael Benitez’s men struggling to cause a threat in the final third.
That result ended a run of three straight Premier League wins, after beating West Ham United, Swansea City and Stoke City in a fine run of form, with Benitez now charged with the task of getting back on track.
Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool and Rafa Benitez, Manager of Newcastle United
Today, Benitez faces an emotional fixture, as his former club Liverpool head to Tyneside in search of a second straight Premier League win, having beaten Leicester City 3-2 last weekend.
The Reds are back in Premier League action having drawn 1-1 with Spartak Moscow in their midweek Champions League clash, which was seen as a disappointing result for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Liverpool are becoming something of a Jekyll and Hyde team, brilliant one minute but disjoined the next, with defensive concerns again holding the Reds back from truly challenging at the top of the Premier League table.
Now, ahead of today’s clash, pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he is worried about Newcastle’s attacking play, suggesting that they are only dangerous from set pieces, and struggle to create in open play.
Lawrenson noted that Liverpool do struggle on set pieces, but he is backing Klopp’s men to leave the North East with all three points in a 2-0 victory, keeping a clean sheet.
“After watching Newcastle’s defeat by Brighton last weekend, I was left thinking the Magpies have got a lot of work to do to stay in the Premier League,” said Lawrenson. “Yes, Rafael Benitez’s side had won their previous three matches but they did not create much against the Seagulls, let alone show that they have got anything to trouble the big teams. The Magpies are good at attacking set-pieces, and Liverpool are obviously not very good at defending them – but I think the Reds will keep a clean sheet too because other than free-kicks and corners, the home side might not offer very much.”
“Newcastle’s defence is going to have to be one of their strengths this season, and under Rafael Benitez it will be. It will be fascinating to see how Benitez sets his team up, and they will be very competitive, but I don’t see them keeping his old club quiet. If you offered Rafa a point now he would probably snap your hand off – but I think Liverpool will take all three,” he added.
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