Liverpool v Newcastle Prediction

Liverpool to prove too strong for Geordies

Liverpool v Newcastle Prediction:

Friday 30th December 2011, Barclays Premier League: 19:45

Author: Thomas Rooney 27/12/2011

Liverpool and Newcastle will be looking to respond to differing Boxing Day fortunes when they meet at Anfield on Friday evening.

Kenny Dalglish's men suffered another disappointing home draw as they were held by bottom of the table Blackburn Rovers, while Newcastle secured their first victory in seven Premier League games at relegtion threatend Bolton.

This means that there is only a point between these two going into Friday night's eagerly anticipated contest with Liverpool and Newcastle sitting in 6th and 7th respectively.

Focusing on Liverpool to begin with it is fair to say that Monday's draw with Blackburn was the latest in a long line of frustrating results against teams in the bottom half.

So far this season the Reds have drawn at home to Swansea City, Norwich City and Sunderland, while they have also lost at Fulham. Then, prior to the draw with Blackburn, they were held at Wigan.

Had they secured maximum points in just a couple of these games, they would be sitting in the top four right now. Current occupants Chelsea have had their problems this year, but Liverpool haven't capitalised on them.

This will hugely frustrate Dalglish and the Liverpool fans. They even managed to equalise against Blackburn with most of the first half to go on Boxing Day, but couldn't find the winner.

No team in the top eight has scored less than Liverpool at home this year and it is starting to become a real worry. Especially as Luis Suarez faces a spell on the sidelines.

As for Newcastle United, they will be determined to frustrate Liverpool at Anfield. Having won at Bolton on Monday, they will feel like they are back on track and will be keen to go a run similar to that which started their campaign.

After all, Alan Pardew's men may well have had a poor spell of late, but looking at the table, they are only four points behind Chelsea in 4th position.

Victory on Friday evening would take them 5th in the table too, so Pardew will be a very happy man going into 2012 if they could pick up a valuable away win.

Considering Demba Ba - who has scored 14 league goals this season - will be heading off to the African Cup of Nations next month, they will want to get as many points as they can before then.

This Newcastle team wants to be a top six team this year and a win at Anfield would make this seem like a much more realistic ambition.

Overall, this should be a cracking contest between two attack minded sides. Liverpool will always go for it on home soil, while Newcastle have proved time and time again the threat they posses going forward.

It's a rare Friday night fixture in the Premier League and it should be a cracker. A high-scoring and narrow Liverpool win seems like a fair prediciton.

Match bet: Liverpool on the Asian Handicap -1 @ 1.850 with Bet365 - (Ł200 free bets)

Correct score prediction: Liverpool 3:0 Newcastle @ 12.5 with Betfair