EPL Betting Pick & Preview: Liverpool vs Newcastle United – Saturday, January 31, 2026

Anfield sets the stage for a crunch Premier League encounter on Saturday evening, January 31st, as Liverpool host Newcastle United in a crucial clash with major top-five implications. Both sides enter the game under pressure, searching for momentum after recent domestic setbacks, and with the season approaching a decisive phase, neither can afford yet another slip.

The Reds are still chasing their first league win of the calendar year, while Newcastle arrive on Merseyside hoping to build on a morale-boosting European result after their league form faltered without playmaker Bruno Guimaraes.

Head-to-Head Record (H2H: Liverpool vs Newcastle)

History strongly favors the Merseysiders. Liverpool’s dominance over Newcastle in the Premier League shows no sign of fading, with the Reds unbeaten in their last 18 league meetings with the Magpies (13 wins, five draws). That streak extends to an astonishing 29 consecutive home league games at Anfield without defeat, marking one of Newcastle’s longest-ever winless runs against a single opponent in top-flight history. Adding further intrigue, Mohamed Salah is chasing a landmark of his own, as the Egyptian striker could become the first player in Premier League history to register double figures for both goals and assists against the same opponent, having already scored 10 times and supplied nine assists against Newcastle.

Liverpool Current Form and Team News

Liverpool’s season has taken an uncomfortable turn in recent months. Last weekend’s dramatic 3-2 defeat away to Bournemouth saw Arne Slot’s side concede yet another stoppage-time winner – the third such occasion in the Premier League this campaign, a club-record unwanted statistic.

That loss ended a 13-match unbeaten run in all competitions and extended Liverpool’s winless league streak to five matches, dropping them to sixth in the table. Alarmingly, the Reds have not gone six league games without a win at the start of a calendar year since 1954 – the last season they were relegated.

However, there was significant midweek relief. Liverpool responded emphatically by thrashing Qarabag 6-0 in the Champions League, sealing qualification for the last 16 and extending their unbeaten Anfield run to seven matches across all competitions.

Injury concerns persist at the back, though. Jeremie Frimpong has been ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury, while Joe Gomez will also miss out. The good news for Slot is the return of Ibrahima Konaté and Curtis Jones, easing selection headaches slightly in a patched-up backline.

Newcastle Current Form and Team News

Newcastle’s domestic momentum stalled last weekend with a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, a result that once again underlined the importance of Bruno Guimarães, who missed the match through injury. Since his arrival in 2022, the Magpies have now failed to win nine Premier League games in which the Brazilian has not started.

That loss left Eddie Howe’s men winless and scoreless in their last two league matches, dropping them to ninth place, level on points with three other sides and five points off the top four.

Encouragingly, Newcastle bounced back in midweek with a creditable 1-1 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain, a result that confirmed their place in the Champions League knockout round playoffs and extended their unbeaten away run to three matches. Newcastle even missed a golden opportunity to inflict a damaging defeat on the reigning Champions League holders, particularly through Harvey Barnes, but the Magpies ultimately had to settle for a draw – a result that nevertheless secured their place in the knockout phase play-offs, where they are now set to face Qarabag.

Guimaraes returned as an unused substitute in Paris and is expected to start at Anfield, but fellow Brazilian Joelinton will miss several weeks with a groin injury. He joins Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth, and Fabian Schär on the injury list, though Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon are fit to return to the starting XI.

Tactical Duel: Two Under-Pressure Managers – Arne Slot vs Eddie Howe

This round pits two managers under increasing scrutiny against one another. Arne Slot has faced criticism for his interviews, Liverpool’s late-game collapses and defensive fragility, while Eddie Howe continues to wrestle with Newcastle’s inconsistent league form and away struggles in particular.

Howe must decide whether to persist with the three-man defense that frustrated PSG or switch to a more attacking setup against a Liverpool backline possibly missing several regulars. Slot, meanwhile, may once again rely on midfielders being deployed in defensive roles, testing Liverpool’s structural discipline.

While neither manager appears immediately at risk, prolonged poor results could significantly increase the pressure in the business part of the season.

Possible Starting Lineups of Liverpool and Newcastle United

Liverpool: Alisson – Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez – Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister – Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo – Hugo Ekitike. (4-2-3-1)

Newcastle United: Nick Pope – Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Dan Burn – Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Lewis Hall – Harvey Barnes, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon. (3-4-3)

Betting Odds and Prediction

According to the latest odds from EveryGame, Liverpool enter Saturday’s game as -125 favorites, while both the draw and a Newcastle victory are priced at +310.

Despite Liverpool’s dominance in this tie, their recent struggles in front of goal – averaging their lowest goals-per-game rate in a Premier League season since 2011-12 – suggest this may not be so straightforward. Yet, the Reds’ home advantage and historical dominance should just about carry them through, but Newcastle’s attacking threats are likely to make it a tense evening for Arne Slot’s selection.

Liverpool vs Newcastle Value Bet: Liverpool to Win and Both Teams to Score – Yes +210 at EveryGame for 4/10 Units