Liverpool claimed their first three points of the season last Saturday and will go in search of another victory when taking on Newcastle United this weekend.
The Reds were the only Premier League side to complete a double over Eddie Howe’s side last campaign, something they should take great encouragement from as they prepare to lock horns with the Magpies once more.
Jurgen Klopp will be able to call on Alexis Mac Allister on Sunday afternoon after the Argentine’s red card was rescinded, representing a major boost in midfield. Elsewhere in this department, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara are closing in on making their respective returns from injury, though Curtis Jones could be sidelined for the second week in succession due to an ankle issue.
Looking ahead to the Reds’ upcoming meeting with the Magpies, four supporters have shared their views as part of a weekly ECHO fan column.
Rhys Buchanan (city centre, @Rhys_Buchanan) – No changes required ahead of Sunday
I was well and truly made up to be back inside Anfield last weekend, meeting up with good friends and familiar faces I hadn’t seen over the long summer and remembering routines in the glorious sunshine over a number of cold beers. That’s before we get onto how I’ve missed the pies! Luckily, the Reds didn’t have any plans on spoiling the party, meaning we could enjoy watching certain other favourable results roll in over the round of fixtures.
Aside from the initial shakiness at the back, I thought we showed good character to get back into the game and could take a wealth of positives home. Wataru Endo’s introduction fell under tough circumstances following Mac Allister’s harsh sending off, but I was quietly impressed with his grit and determination. Elsewhere, Diaz looks in fine form and Szoboszlai has all the makings of a vital component this season.
Heading into a tough away clash at Newcastle on Sunday, I’d be looking to field the same team and, as a realist at this stage, would take a point to build on, or even better, a repeat of last season’s big away win at St James’ Park! Up the Reds.
Andrew Cullen (Widnes, @brothersred5) – Szoboszlai is already looking the real deal
After a nervous beginning, Liverpool produced an assured performance against Bournemouth. Dominik Szoboszlai produced an electric, effortless performance, a display filled to the brim with pace and power. He looks already to be the player who can spark life into the Liverpool midfield. While we have benefitted from functional midfielders like Henderson and Fabinho, and flair players like Thiago and Keïta, we have not had for some time an athletic, powerful, box-to-box midfielder.
The Cody Gakpo midfield experiment has not quite worked. In a more advanced role last season, Gakpo was central to the team’s performance. But this season, when played in a midfield position, he has quickly become peripheral in games. Used sparingly, Gakpo may be an option in the midfield at Anfield when we want to unleash more attacking players on the pitch but, as an established midfielder, the early signs are that such a position will stifle his brilliance, rather than unfold it.
Against Newcastle this weekend, I expect Gakpo to make way for Endo. This switch should strengthen our defensive shape. The race for the title is already afoot and, even at this early stage, we need to keep with the emerging front-runners.
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