Key events
14 mins: Newcastle will be a little frustrated by how easy it was for Liverpool to open the scoring. They are, however, not the first and will not be the last to be cut open by the Reds this season.
Diaz darts into the box again but Newcastle have the numbers to crowd him out.
GOAL! Liverpool break down the left and Diaz reaches the box before flicking the ball with the outside of his boot to Szoboszlai who shoots left-footed. The ball goes through the legs of Tonali and then flicks off Burn’s boot and beyond the diving Pope.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Newcastle (Szoboszlai, 11)
The Hungarian beats Pope thanks to a little deflection.
10 mins: Newcastle get their first chance to break as Tonali drives the ball up the pitch before pushing it out to Murphy on the right but his cross is poor and sails over the bar.
8 mins: The camera pans to Slot in the stands and he looks confused at the decision not to award Salah a penalty.
6 mins: Liverpool are looking lively in possession and certainly not resting on the fact they will almost certainly win the league. Newcastle have everyone behind the ball. Should be a fun night.
4 mins: Liverpool want a penalty after Salah is dragged down by Hall inside the box but referee Attwell gives it the other way. I am not sure what the ref has seen. VAR does not seem keen to get involved.
Salah almost reaches Diaz with a through ball but Livramento intercepts.
Steve sounds serious: “When meeting your neighbour for the first time, you should tell him your name is Will, that you are his neighbour (if context does not make that clear), and then shut up and listen. Listening (and remembering what you hear) is both helpful and important. My wife tells me I can do neither.
“The Americans are very good at asking other’s names, especially the bit about pronunciation. I remember a few people being pissed off that Brits emphasized the first syllable in Barack rather then the second. They tend not to make assumptions with unfamiliar names.”
2 mins: It is hammering it down at Anfield. The weather is the most noticeable thing about the opening exchanges.
Stephen Gibb suggests: “When in doubt I go with Dennis, but people do find me odd.”
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
Steven Hallett emails: “English, moved to America.. Called a client in my early days here, a man called Jesus ( as in Hey-sues phonetically).. Yep, I called and asked to speak to Jesus…”
Blasphemer!
The players are out on the pitch.
I need some personal help. I have new neighbours and my wife has told me the husband is called Tim, while the landlord of the property says it’s Nick. Who do I believe? How do I introduce myself? Should I call him Tick? What’s your biggest naming faux pas?
Man United are 2-1 up against Ipswich at Old Trafford where it is raining goals (and rain).
Eddie Howe on Isak: “Really disappointing that we lose Alex but he is a player we can’t take any risks with. He was feeling something and he had to leave him out. We don’t think it is serious.”
On Liverpool: “We have to be brave and everything we weren’t against Manchester City. We know it is a very difficult game and our mental side has to be faultless.”
Chris Paraskevas emails: “Slot starting Tsimikas AND Diaz is confirmation that he knows this game is a pisstake. Eddie Howe might as well have started Emmanuel Riviere up front (a Mike Ashley-era classic) for all that it matters, because we all know there’s a faintly ludicrous Liverpool win coming up.
“Suggestion for Howe and staff: many years ago the Socceroos were suffering from a decades-long curse they picked up after failing to pay a witch doctor in Mozambique in the 70s. When someone eventually lifted the curse, we finally qualified for the World Cup (after lots of absurd heartbreak).
“…which Merseyside witch doctor did we piss off in the past? It’s time for His Excellency to find them and pay them and possibly cover himself in chicken’s blood to lift the Anfield curse.”
He does! There is no news on the new contract, says Salah.
Mohamed Salah, speaking to Steve McManaman, explains this is his best season at Liverpool because he is making everyone around him better. Quite an impressive feat for Salah. Will McManaman ask about his contract situation …?
Some early good news for Liverpool and Newcastle United fans …
Manchester United are losing.
Emillia Hawkins has you covered for England v Spain in the Women’s Nations League.
Will Newcastle need a new striker in the summer? Plans are afoot on the transfer front.
A groin problem has ruled Isak out of tonight’s fixture. A tough blow for Newcastle.
It looks very cold and windy at Anfield. If you want a classic, then the weather has to be terrible. I am pretty sure those are the rules.
We have plenty of 7.30pm kick-offs, too. Join Taha Hashim for them.
No Isak for Newcastle. That is a blow for Eddie Howe, who gives Callum Wilson a rare start up top.
Starting lineups
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jota, Diaz.
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Elliott, Robertson, Quansah.
Newcastle: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock; Murphy, Wilson, Gordon.
Subs: Dubravka, Trippier, Ruddy, Longstaff, Osula, Miley, Targett, Krafth, Barnes
Get in the mood with Jonathan Liew on that man Salah.
There will be no Arne Slot on the touchline at Anfield tonight.
Preamble
Is this the start of Liverpool’s victory parade? They are 11 points clear at the top and their closest rivals do not possess a fit striker. It feels the effective and efficient Reds are romping home to the title, their superiority further proved with a straightforward win over Manchester City at the weekend.
Arne Slot – banned from the touchline here – will face Newcastle once more in a few weeks, when the two do battle at Wembley for the first major trophy of the season. Is this a dress rehearsal for that? Not really, as there is plenty to play for on the night at Anfield. This is a fixture that in the 1990s brought some brilliant entertainment to the nation and considering Newcastle’s last match was a 4-3 win, maybe we will be seeing more of that tonight.
Here’s to a cracker!
Kick-off: 8.15pm GMT
