The iconic lights of Anfield will shine tonight, Saturday, January 31, 2026, for a high-stakes Premier League encounter. Both Liverpool and Newcastle United are desperate to reignite their domestic campaigns after a week of contrasting European fortunes. Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT.
Liverpool (6th, 36 points) are enduring a rare slump, winless in their last five league matches. Meanwhile, Newcastle (9th, 33 points) arrive looking to break a nearly three-decade "bogey" at Anfield—the Magpies haven't won a Premier League away game here since April 1994.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | Premier League (Matchday 24) |
| Date | Saturday, January 31, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET |
| Venue | Anfield, Liverpool |
| Referee | Simon Hooper |
| TV Channel | TNT Sports 1 / Discovery+ (UK) / NBC (US) |
Liverpool: Seeking a Domestic Reset
Arne Slot’s side is currently a tale of two competitions. While they dismantled Qarabağ 6–0 in the Champions League on Wednesday to secure a Round of 16 spot, their league form has tanked. A heart-wrenching 3–2 loss to Bournemouth last weekend marked their fifth straight league game without a win.
Team News and Selection:
Defensive Boost: Ibrahima Konaté has returned to training after compassionate leave and is expected to start alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Full-back Crisis: Jeremie Frimpong (thigh) and Conor Bradley are both sidelined. With Joe Gomez also out, Slot may have to deploy Dominik Szoboszlai in a deeper role or turn to youth.
The Goal Machine: Hugo Ekitiké, the summer's marquee £79m signing, leads the line. He scored in the midweek rout and is the Reds' top scorer this term.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitiké.
Newcastle: The Quest to Banish the Curse
Eddie Howe’s men are riding high after a 1–1 draw with PSG that secured their Champions League play-off spot. However, they are still reeling from the summer departure of Alexander Isak to... Liverpool. Currently sitting 9th, the Magpies need to improve their away form (only 2 wins on the road) to stay in the European hunt.
Team News and Selection:
Midfield Doubt: Bruno Guimarães missed last weekend's loss to Aston Villa and is a late fitness test for tonight.
Attack: With Isak now in the opposing red shirt (though currently injured for Liverpool), the pressure is on Harvey Barnes and Yoane Wissa to provide the clinical edge.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schär, Thiaw, Hall; Tonali, Guimarães (?), Longstaff; Gordon, Wissa, Barnes.
? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
The Streak: Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 18 league games against Newcastle (W13, D5).
Salah’s Milestone: Mohamed Salah is one assist away from becoming the first player in PL history to reach double figures for both goals and assists against a single opponent.
Defensive Woes: Liverpool have conceded 32 goals in 23 games—the highest among the current top six.
Reverse Fixture: Liverpool won a thriller 3–2 at St. James' Park in August 2025.
Tactical Analysis and Prediction
This match features a fascinating tactical sub-plot: Arne Slot versus Eddie Howe. Liverpool will likely dominate the ball, but their high defensive line has looked vulnerable to the exact kind of vertical, athletic counter-attacks that Newcastle excels at through Anthony Gordon.
However, Anfield has a psychological grip on this fixture. Despite Liverpool's recent league "emergency," their 6–0 midweek win suggests the scoring touch has returned. Newcastle's struggles away from home make them the underdogs once again.
Final Score Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Newcastle United
