Liverpool will host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Boxing Day.
Paul Merson has admitted that it would be ‘the biggest shock of the season’ if Newcastle United were to beat Liverpool at Anfield on Boxing Day.
Rafa Benitez will take on his former club, who are sitting top of the Premier League table, whilst his current side sit three places above the drop zone.
The Magpies recorded a goalless draw against bottom-of-the-table Fulham at the weekend despite the London club conceding 42 goals from their 18 matches – the most in the top-flight this season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are unbeaten in the league so far during this campaign and they will be hoping to extend their four-point lead on Manchester City at the top of the table.
Former Aston Villa midfielder Merson explains why Benitez’ side have very little chance of leaving Anfield with all three points on Wednesday afternoon.
“I watched Newcastle against Fulham, they never looked like scoring in a month of Sundays and they were playing against the worst defence in the world,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“So this would be the biggest shock of the season if they won here. Newcastle will defend for so long, but then it will not be enough.”
Only Huddersfield Town, who are second from bottom, have scored fewer goals than Newcastle this season as the north-east club have struggled to find the back of the net on a regular basis.
Newcastle have a number of tricky fixtures coming up, which could see them fall into the Premier League’s bottom three if they don’t pick up any points and other results go against them.
After the Anfield clash, United will round off the year by playing in-form Watford at Vicarage Road before they start off 2019 by hosting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s recently revived Manchester United.
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