Newcastle United have been on a tear in recent weeks, with the Magpies winning their last six games at home, yet their biggest test yet in Liverpool is just around the corner.
Eddie Howe’s side have been marvellous since the January transfer window, with PIF’s first venture into the market turning Newcastle’s fortunes around in a big way, with the Toon now up to the top half of the Premier League table.
And their form at home has been key to this incredible rise, with Newcastle one of the best sides in the Premier League in 2022 when playing in front of their own fans, but this weekend against Liverpool will be a big test for Howe’s squad.
Indeed, Newcastle’s home record against Liverpool is poor, with their last win against the Reds coming in December 2015, but where are those who starred for the Magpies on that day? Here, we take a deep dive.
GK – Rob Elliot
Current club: Watford
Newcastle’s no. 1 keeper in the 2015/16 season, Rob Elliot spent nine seasons with the Toon mainly acting as backup before leaving for Watford in 2020, where the now 35-year-old shot-stopper has made just one appearance in all competitions for the Hornets.
RB – Daryl Janmaat
Current club: ADO Den Haag
Daryl Janmaat joined the northeast side with plenty of promise, however, the former Netherlands international eventually fell out with supporters before departing for Watford in 2016, with the fullback now on the books for Dutch side ADO Den Haag.
CB – Fabricio Coloccini
Current club: Retired
A player who will go down in Newcastle folklore as one of the best in their best in the Premier League era, Fabricio Coloccini was at the end of his time on Tyneside when the Toon faced Liverpool in their 2-0 win against the Reds.
The Argentine departed England at the end of the 2015/16 season to return to his homeland in South America, where Coloccini played for five more seasons with both San Lorenzo and Aldosivi before retiring in 2021.
CB – Chancel Mbemba
Current club: FC Porto
Just like Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba joined Newcastle with plenty of promise and excitement, and whilst the defender impressed against Liverpool, the DR Congo international quickly saw his form dip, with the centre-back now a regular for Portuguese and European giants FC Porto.
LB – Paul Dummett
Current club: Newcastle United
The only player to start against Liverpool seven years ago to still be at Newcastle, Paul Dummett has stuck by his local side through thick and thin, with the left-back remaining with the Magpies after their shock relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2015/16 season.
RM – Moussa Sissoko
Current club: Watford
One of the best signings made by Alan Pardew, Moussa Sissoko spent four seasons at Newcastle before joining Tottenham in 2016 for a reported £30m, where the France international was a regular for the north London side before ending up at Watford last summer.
CM – Jack Colback
Current Club: Nottingham Forest
One of a few players to play for both Sunderland Newcastle, Jack Colback’s time with the Magpies was mixed, to say the least. However, the midfielder has found a home in Nottingham Forest after joining the Championship side permanently in 2020 after spending two seasons on loan with the second-tier side.
CM – Vurnon Anita
Current club: RKC Waalwijk
Remember Vurnon Anita? The Curacao international joined Newcastle from Ajax in 2012 to much fanfare. However, the midfielder proved to be nothing special for the Toon, with the now-33-year-old currently plying his trade back in Holland with RKC Waalwijk after spells with Leeds United and CSKA-Sofia.
LM – Georginio Wijnaldum
Current club: PSG
To say Georginio Wijnaldum’s career post-Newcastle has been electric would be an understatement. The Netherlands star joined Liverpool one year after beating the Reds where the midfielder would come a key player for Jurgen Klopp’s side, winning the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League title before moving to PSG last summer
ST- Siem de Jong
Current club: Heerenveen
An anomaly of a striker, Siem de Jong could go down as one of the most unforgettable Newcastle players in recent memory, with the former Dutch international spending just one season with the Toon before returning to Holland with PSV and having a career that has taken the forward to Sydney FC in Australia and FC Cincinnati in the USA.
ST – Papiss Cisse
Current club: Caykur Rizespor
From one forgettable Newcastle striker to one of the most memorable, Papiss Cisse will always have a special place with Toon supporters, with the veteran attacker currently plying his trade in Turkey with Super Lig side Caykur Rizespor after playing for the likes of Shandong Luneng and Fenerbahce once leaving Tyneside in 2016.
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