Jurgen Klopp has expressed sympathy for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United following their recent problems. The Magpies travel to Anfield on New Year’s Day having lost six of their past seven games in all competitions and looking to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat.
Meanwhile, Liverpool now leads the Premier League table, having lost only once this season – and that came in the dying moments against Tottenham Hotspur when down to nine men. Speaking ahead of his team’s match against Newcastle, Klopp expressed sympathy for his counterpart and the number of injuries he has had to deal with this season as they adjust to juggling the demands of European and domestic football.
“Newcastle have a lot of injuries, but they played European football now, which they haven’t done 50 times in a row,” Klopp stated. So it’s simply recovery and then back to work, so it’s an adjustment and a bit of a challenge.
“They’ve still done well in the games I’ve seen, but Eddie has clearly had to use the same lineup far too often.” Credit to the guys for their efforts, but because it was the same lineup, the players who played all the time were exhausted, and the ones who returned had no rhythm.”
Newcastle United have not won a Premier League game at Anfield since 1994, and were denied a point the last time the two teams met on Merseyside by a late Fabio Carvalho winner. Anthony Taylor, who officiated the game at St James’ Park in February, will be in charge on Monday.
