The Newcastle ‘keeper has been impressive since joining on loan from Sparta Prague, but can he continue his promising start against Liverpool on Saturday?
Newcastle United’s defensive unit will face a huge task on Saturday against Liverpool as they go about trying to keep the deadly trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane at bay.
In total, Liverpool’s front three have netted 43 Premier League goals this season, 16 more than the entire Newcastle squad combined.
Having leaked some sloppy goals throughout the campaign, there will be a lot of tightening up required if Rafa Benitez and his men are to salvage any sort of positive result from their trip to Anfield.
The Slovakian international goalie has enjoyed a promising start to life in the Premier League so far. His debut will be forever remembered as the Newcastle shot stopper produced a stunning display to earn a clean sheet at St James’ Park, helping his side see out a historic victory over Manchester United.
Dubravka also shone in his second outing for the Magpies, however, two late goals from Bournemouth denied the former Slavia Prague man a second clean sheet in a row. This sloppy defending from Newcastle must be eradicated quickly before the weekend trip to Merseyside.
Jamaal Lascelles has performed to a decent standard throughout most of the season, however, as a defensive unit alongside the likes of Ciaran Clark or Florian Lejeune, the Magpies have struggled to keep clean sheets.
The sheer presence of Dubravka himself already is a massive improvement on the sub-par Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot, who were both disappointing in the earlier stages of the season.
With the Slovakian producing saves like he has been on his first two appearances in a Magpies shirt, Benitez can take some confidence going forward, however, Dubravka’s defensive colleague will be the real difference maker on Saturday as the Spanish manager faces up against his old team whom he enjoyed six of the most successful years of his career with.
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