Liverpool are yet to be beaten at home this season and they can keep that record intact with a New Year’s Day victory over stuttering Newcastle. 

Eddie Howe’s men have a lengthy list of absentees and they head to Anfield in poor form after three straight defeats, and Liverpool can take advantage as they look to maintain their lead at the top of the league. 

Team News 

The Liverpool trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz will probably return to the starting XI on Monday after being named among the substitutes for the 2-0 win at Burnley last time out. 

Alexis Mac Allister is close to a return from a knee injury and could make the matchday squad, although he may have to settle for a bench role. The hosts remain without Kostas Tsimikas, Ben Doak, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Andrew Robertson and Stefan Bajcetic. 

Newcastle’s injury woes are easing and Joelinton returned to the bench for the defeat to Nottingham Forest in the last round of games. The Magpies still have plenty of absentees, however, and Sandro Tonali, Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Jamaal Lascelles, Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett, Javi Manquillo and Joe Willock will not be featuring. 

Match Odds 

Liverpool are the clear favourites to win at 4/9, while Newcastle are the 11/2 underdogs as they seek a first win at Anfield since way back in 1994, and a draw is 18/5. 

Both teams to score has been a winning bet in four of the last six meetings between these two sides and it is 4/7 for both teams to find a way through, while over 3.5 goals pays out at 11/10. 

Liverpool to win and both teams to score @ 8/5 

Liverpool are the odds-on favourites to win this one and they should be expected to pick up another three points against an out-of-sorts and injury-ravaged Newcastle outfit in the first Premier League game of 2024.  

Jurgen Klopp’s men have been close to perfect at Anfield this season and are yet to be beaten in front of their own fans, winning all of their games across all competitions aside from two Premier League draws - against Manchester United and Arsenal. 

Newcastle have a woeful record in this part of Merseyside and haven’t managed a win at Anfield since 1994, and they head into Monday’s game in dreadful form having lost five of their last seven games across all competitions. 

The case for a home win is fairly straightforward but the value play could be backing Liverpool to triumph in a game with goals at both ends. 

The Reds may boast an impressive home record but they have conceded in three of their last four fixtures at this venue, shipping five goals in total. Newcastle have only failed to score in one of their last six games and have managed to at least grab a goal in each of their last four trips to Anfield, so the visitors can register a consolation effort here. 

Anthony Gordon to be shown a card @ 11/4 

A Mohamed Salah goal anytime at 19/20 is perhaps the standout player bet option here as the Egyptian will feature for the final time before linking up with his country for AFCON, but at a bigger price a card for former Everton man Anthony Gordon has real appeal. 

Gordon picked up his seventh booking of the season in the defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out and committed three fouls in total during that game. Gordon scored in the reverse fixture earlier in the season and should be eager to make his mark again here, but a booking looks more likely than a goal for the Newcastle man.