da bet7： Andy Carroll will be centre of attention as his former club Newcastle travel to Merseyside to face Liverpool with both sides still in pursuit of the top four.
da betway： The Geordie striker has had an underwhelming 11 months at Anfield scoring just five goals since his £35 million move from the Magpies on the final day of the January transfer window. Manager Kenny Dalglish will hoping the Reds’ record signing will end 2011 in lethal form against the club who has supported all of his life. His importance has certainly moved up another notch after Luis Suarez was given a one game ban for his hand gesture against Fulham at the start of the month. The return of Steven Gerrard is also a boost as Dalglish attempts to get Liverpool winning at home once again. In nine games at Anfield they’ve won only three and drawn six with bottom side Blackburn the latest team to hold them on Boxing Day. The Reds will need to much more clinical in front of goal against a Newcastle side who got their season back on track with a win at Bolton.
Alan Pardew’s men tasted their first success since the beginning of November with a 2-0 win at the Reebok Stadium. That victory over the Trotters moved the Magpies to within four points of Chelsea in fourth and have Pardew food for thought over his attacking options for the trip to Merseyside. With the game deadlocked at 0-0 the Newcastle boss threw Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa into the mix and it was his goal that effectively won the game with Demba Ba scoring just two minutes later to seal all three points. Ben Arfa has come in for some criticism in recent weeks but his impact in the last two games will surely secure him a starting berth ahead of the goal shy Leon Best. The former Marseille man will be an important player the Geordies once Ba heads off to the African Nations Cup in mid-January and Pardew may opt to give him game time ahead of the Senegalese strikers departure. His skill and unpredictability playing in the hole behind Ba could give Newcastle the edge at Anfield.
Liverpool 6th : 31 points
Team news: Luis Suarez is banned but Steven Gerrard could return to the starting line up. Lucas is the only long-term absentee.
Key Player: Andy Carroll
Whilst many may balk at this choice this game could be the making of the Liverpool number nine and get his career back on track. Should the Reds play to his advantages he could cause major problems for his hometown club and finally show the Kop he is worth every penny of his £35 million price tag.
Newcastle 7th : 30 points
Team news: Davide Santon could return to the bench whilst Hatem Ben Arfa is pushing for a start. Demba Ba has a slight knock but should recover in time to play.
Key Player: Yohan Cabaye
After missing the home defeat against West Brom the Frenchman returned to the starting eleven for the Boxing Day clash with Bolton and showed just how important he is to Newcastle. Cabaye ran the midfield with his incisive passing and work ethic making it difficult for the Trotters to find a way through him and Cheick Tiote.
PREDICTION
Both sides have gone through rocky patches lately and know they need to keep winning if their top-four dream is to become a reality. Liverpool struggle to win at home whilst Newcastle are likely to go out and play for a point.
Score: 1-1
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