Rafa Benitez is typically a cautious manager, but Liverpool’s defensive struggles mean he and Newcastle should show ambition at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United have a handy enough record against the top sides, particularly since Rafa Benitez’s arrival – beating Tottenham Hotspur and drawing with both Manchester City and Liverpool towards the end of the doomed 2015-16 Premier League season.
On the opening day of the current campaign, too, Newcastle again held their own against Spurs until Jonjo Shelvey’s foolish red card opened the door for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
As admirable as that performance at St James’ Park was, though, they surely must alter their approach against Liverpool on Sunday.
Some may argue that attacking Liverpool would leave the Magpies open on the counter-attack, but Jurgen Klopp’s men continue to make defensive errors and have – in Simon Mignolet – a goalkeeper who is also vulnerable.
If Newcastle sit off the Reds and try to soak up the pressure, an attacking quartet of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino will eventually break through – and that’s before considering an inevitable Georginio Wijnaldum goal on his return.
No; Benitez’s men must use their attacking assets against his former club, get speedsters DeAndre Yedlin and Christian Atsu running at the frail Liverpool back-line and look to win the game in a positive manner.
It would certainly be a big departure from Newcastle’s clash against Spurs earlier this term, but – with nothing to lose – the final day of the 2015-16 season, at home to the same side, showed just how an ambitious approach can pay off.
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