The honor of playing the first English Premier League match in 2024 goes to Liverpool FC and Newcastle United. It seems appropriate for Liverpool, the team at the top of the EPL table at the moment, to open the new year on home turf on January 1. The visiting Newcastle is in free fall, losing its last four of its last five games, and is struggling on the road, winning only one match away from St. James’ Park this season.
Liverpool is undefeated at Anfield Road this season, a stadium where Newcastle has not triumphed in an EPL match since 1994. All these facts make it a one-sided matchup on paper, and the best free betting apps are not ignorant of those facts offering -230 odds on a Liverpool moneyline bet, compared to +550 odds on Newcastle for the same bet.
Liverpool Has Only One Defeat
Liverpool is on track to win the Premier League title, but the recent ties against Arsenal, their main competitor for the title, and Manchester United signal that this team is not dominant on a week-by-week basis. Form oscillates through the season, but Arsenal has managed to average 2 goals per game with 34% shooting accuracy. The best scorer on the roster with 12 goals is Mohamed Salah, while Darwin Nunez is responsible for 5 goals and 5 assists. This team scored 39 goals over 19 matches and conceded 16 goals.
Jurgen Klopp’s team has been defeated only once this season. Yet, even successful campaigns are marked by injuries, and Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Diogo Jota, Thiago, and Alexis Mac Allister will be out for Monday's game. The most worrying problem on the roster is the left-back crisis after Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas got injured earlier in the season.
Injuries Are a Big Problem For Newcastle
Newcastle’s crisis is deepening by the week. Their last two defeats came from Luton Town and Nottingham Forest, both teams firmly secured at the bottom of the EPL. Playing against one of the best teams provides a big motive, but Newcastle’s roster is plagued by injuries.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope's dislocated shoulder will keep him away from the turf for several months, and Martin Dubravka will fill in as keeper of the net. Additional names on the injury list are Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, Matt Targett, Elliot Anderson, and Harvey Barnes.
Despite all the problems, Newcastle ranks 9th in the EPL with 9 wins and 8 defeats. The encouraging sign is the positive 12-goal differential for a team that averages 1.95 goals per game with 38% shooting efficiency. The most productive scorers are Alexander Isak with 8 goals and Callum Wilson with 7 goals. Injuries have derailed Newcastle, but the team needs to stabilize its free fall and turn things around.
Betting Prediction
Newcastle United needs to improve its defense to limit Liverpool’s opportunities - which is easier said than done when going against the best current team in the EPL. The total of 3.5 goals at betting sites with free bets offers +110 odds for the Over and -140 odds for the Under. A 1.5-point spread offers +105 on Liverpool to cover and a -150 betting line on Newcastle to cover.
Newcastle United had a good start to the season, and 2024 might mark a return to the old form. However, Liverpool does not appear to be in a losing mood at home. In any case, there will be an interesting match to kick off 2024.
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