Arne Slot’s Liverpool are out to build on an emphatic Champions League win in midweek as they return to Premier League action against Newcastle on Saturday at 8pm.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Newcastle
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Endo, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Liverpool are enduring an injury crisis for the ages at the moment and particularly in defence, so Arne Slot may need to be creative in putting his eleven together for this one.
Liverpool team news vs Newcastle
Yet another defender picked up an injury for Liverpool in midweek, with Jeremie Frimpong being withdrawn just a few minutes into the 6-0 Champions League win over Qarabag.
The right-back appeared to pull up with a hamstring issue and with fellow right-sided defender Connor Bradley set to miss the majority of 2026, Arne Slot may now have to call upon Dominik Szoboszlai to fill that hole in the side for the foreseeable future.
Ibrahim Konate is currently away from the club due to personal reasons, while Joe Gomez picked up a knock in the defeat to Bournemouth last weekend and while his absence isn’t expected to be a lengthy one, he is likely to miss out again this weekend.
Youngster Giovanni Leoni is expected to miss the rest of the season too, so Arne Slot will at least be happy to see that Andy Robertson looks set to stay at Anfield despite transfer rumours linking him with a move to Tottenham Hotspur during this January transfer window.
The Reds’ other absentee is Alexander Isak who is expected to be missing until March and won’t get the opportunity to play against his former club here.
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Will Slot look for defensive reinforcements?
Liverpool’s injury list makes for pretty grim reading for Arne Slot at the moment, particularly with the amount of defenders that are set for a spell on the sidelines.
While we’re yet to find out the extent of Jeremie Frimpong’s hamstring issue, Slot will be happy that Andy Robertson looks set to stay at the club for the remainder of the season at least as options are light on the ground in defence right now.
Ryan Gravenberch was forced to play as a centre back during the Champions League mauling of Qarabag in midweek while both Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo, midfielders by trade, could be expected to fill in at the back this weekend.
With that in mind, Slot may look to the transfer market for some defensive reinforcements before the window slams shut next week, with Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet one player who has been linked with a move to Anfield in recent days.
However, a more eye-catching rumour involves a move for Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upemacano.
The 27 year old France international is a more established name and would likely come in as a first-choice partner for Virgil van Dijk even when the likes of Ibrahim Konate and Joe Gomez are fit again.
Time is running out for Liverpool to do business, particularly big-money of this kind, but they made need to improve their squad to stand any chance of keeping the pace in the race for the top four.