LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, July 26, 2020: Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (R) speaks with team-mate Sadio Mané during the final match of the FA Premier League season between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St. James' Park. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. Liverpool won 3-1 and finished the season as Champions on 99 points. (Pic by Propaganda)

St James’ Park expects goals as Liverpool target best-ever winning run vs. Newcastle

Liverpool could record their best-ever winning run against Newcastle tonight, in a Premier League clash that presents a number of other all-time tallies to break.

Liverpool have won 29 and lost 11 of the 50 Premier League meetings between the sides while at St James’ Park they have won nine, drawn six and lost 10.

They have won each of their last five league meetings with Newcastle, and have never won six in a row.

This run includes victories in the last two in the league at Newcastle, but Liverpool have never managed three in succession.

The Reds have scored three or more in each of the last four Premier League clashes with tonight’s opposition. They have never achieved the feat for a fifth consecutive time.

 

Goals galore

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, July 26, 2020: Divock Origi (C) celebrates scoring the second goal with team-mates during the final match of the FA Premier League season between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St. James' Park. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (Pic by Propaganda)

Liverpool have scored 104 goals against the Magpies – more than against any other team.

There has not been a goalless draw in any of the last 68 league fixtures between the teams – a run dating back to February 1974 and a game on this ground.

The Reds are looking to score three times at St James’ Park in a third consecutive visit, having found the net in 23 of the last 26 meetings home and away in league encounters.

Meanwhile, they have kept just three clean sheets in their last 27 league visits – September 2001, November 2007 and April 2013 – and only one in the last 10.

 

2020 to remember

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 27, 2020: Liverpool's Sadio Mané celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Bromwich Albion FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

This is the Reds’ final league game of 2020, having earned 76 points from 34 games so far.

Their leading scorers in the Premier League in the calendar year are Mo Salah (23), Sadio Mane (14), Roberto Firmino (eight) and Diogo Jota (five).

A draw with West Brom on Sunday meant that for the first time in their history Liverpool remained unbeaten at home in the league in three consecutive calendar years.

 

Lucky number seven?

Liverpool have won their final match of a calendar year on each of the last six occasions since a loss at Chelsea in 2013.

 

Leaky Magpies

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 21, 2020: Newcastle United's Steve Bruce during the FA Premier League match between Everton FC and Newcastle United FC at Goodison Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Newcastle have not kept a home clean sheet in their last 11 league games – their longest run in the top flight since February 2005 under Graeme Souness.

They have only kept one clean sheet since the opening day at West Ham, in the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace last month.

 

Late drama?

Newcastle have scored seven of their league goals from the 80th minute onwards, but have conceded eight in the same period.

 

Tonight’s referee

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2020: Referee Paul Tierney shows a red card to Chelsea's Andreas Christensen (hidden) during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (Pic by Propaganda)

Paul Tierney has issued three red cards in his nine league games this season including one in two of his last three matches.

It is almost two years since his last Newcastle game (Jan 2019 and a 2-1 home win over Man City).

 

This season’s scorers

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 6, 2020: Liverpool's Sadio Mané (L) celebrates with team-mate Mohamed Salah after the fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Newcastle: Wilson 8, Joelinton 3, Almiron 2, Hendrick 2, Murphy 2, own goals 2, Clark 1, Fraser 1, Gayle 1, Hayden 1, Lascelles 1, Saint-Maximin 1, Shelvey 1

Liverpool: Salah 16, Jota 9, Mane 7, Firmino 5, Minamino 4, Jones 3, own goals 3, Grujic 1, Henderson 1, Matip 1, Origi 1, Robertson 1, Shaqiri 1, Van Dijk 1, Wijnaldum 1


* Statistics courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).