Premier League statistical preview: including Newcastle vs Liverpool and Everton vs Crystal Palace

Whoscored.com return to rattle through the numbers this weekend

Newcastle vs Liverpool

In what is a highly-aniticipated Premier League fixture given the matches played out between the two over the years, and arguably the most attention grabbing this coming gameweek, Newcastle host Liverpool in Sunday’s late kick off. The two teams come into this fixture is contrasting form, with Newcastle currently mired in the relegation zone and two points off safety. Liverpool, meanwhile, enter this fixture with their confidence sky high. The Reds secured their place in the semi final of the Capital One Cup with a 6-1 thumping of Southampton in midweek.

Meanwhile, the Merseysiders are now just six points off top spot after a 1-0 win over Swansea last week, their first in the league at Anfield since Jurgen Klopp took over the reins following Brendan Rodgers’ sacking. Whisper it quietly, but Liverpool could still consider themselves title contenders if they can maintain their good form at Newcastle’s expense this weekend.

The Magpies look at a loss as to how to correct their poor form, with Steve McClaren struggling to portray his ideas to the squad. A fortuitous away win over Bournemouth is their only victory in their last five league outings, though they have lost just one of their last four on home turf, that coming against a rampant Leicester side.

A similar showing to the one in the 6-2 rout of Norwich - their only home win this term - is required if they are to halt Klopp and co. at St. James’ Park this weekend, with key midfielder and summer signing Georginio Wijnaldum excelling in the win over Alex Neil’s side. Since then, though, the Dutchman’s form has tailed off, with the former PSV captain struggling to match the heights of his 10-out-of-10 performance against the Canaries.

Newcastle perhaps hold the upper hand having a full week’s rest behind them, while Liverpool travel to Newcastle on the back of their midweek excursions on the south coast, but a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace will have dented morale. McClaren now needs his leaders to stand up and take responsibility of the club’s failings, with Wijnaldum one whose displays need to rise to a standard he is capable of.

No player has scored more headed goals in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season than Wijnaldum (4), who has the ability to ghost into the opposition penalty box to score. If Liverpool indeed fail to closely track the Netherlands international, the 25-year-old can maximise his attacking prowess to hit the back of the net.

For the visitors, Klopp will look to the offensive qualities of Roberto Firmino as a path to goal. The Brazil international - like Wijnaldum - moved to England over the summer and after an underwhelming start to life at Liverpool, appears settled and back to his best under Klopp. The three league goals he has been directly involved in have come in his last four league appearances.

Firmino was in fine form on Liverpool’s last league game away from home as the Reds romped to a 4-1 win at title favourites City, where Firmino gained the man of the match award with a WhoScored rating of 8.92. No team has conceded more league goals than Newcastle (30) in England’s top tier this term, so Firmino will be confident of adding to his solitary Premier League goal against the Magpies.

A win for either side will go a long to achieving their respective seasonal goals, though Liverpool understandably come into this fixture as strong favourites. After a superb win at Southampton on Wednesday, they have what it takes to reaffirm their status as outside title favourites, in the process condemning Newcastle to their ninth league defeat of the campaign.

Everton vs Crystal Palace

Just one point separates Everton and Crystal Palace heading into Monday night’s clash at Goodison Park, in what promises to be an entertaining battle between the two European hopefuls.

With plenty of exciting attacking talents on display for either side, there should be chances at either end to continue the trend between the two on Merseyside since Palace returned to the top-flight. Both matches at Goodison in that time have ended in 3-2 wins for the away side, while Everton picked up three points at Selhurst Park in their most recent meeting, proving home advantage has counted for little in this fixture.

Indeed, the last time the home side came out on top in this encounter saw Everton win 4-0 back in 2005, with the Toffees aiming to replicate their last performance on home turf, which ended in the same scoreline against Aston Villa. Only Manchester City have scored more goals at home than Martinez’s men this season (16), but again it’s only Pellegrini’s charges that have conceded fewer goals on the road than Palace (5).

While the likes of Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu have both flourished for Everton of late, it’s Romelu Lukaku who is again leading their charge to challenge the top 4 this season. The Belgian scored again in midweek, ensuring the Toffees safe passage to the Capital One Cup semi-final, and his scintillating form will be a concern to Alan Pardew.

With a late goal at Bournemouth last weekend the 22-year old took his league tally to 10 for the season, second only to Jamie Vardy and enough to match his tally from the entirety of the 2014/15 campaign. Netting in each of his last 5 appearances for Everton in all competitions, he’ll be confident of extending that run against Palace having opened the scoring in the last two meetings between the sides.

The Toffees are maximising the strengths of their front man, who is able to bring their creative players into play and keep possession further up the pitch. Against a Palace side that tend to surrender possession to their opponents on the road, Lukaku could thrive once more.

For the visitors, while the likes of Bolasie and Puncheon will be expected to carry the attacking threat in the absence of suspended Wilf Zaha, avoiding being overrun in the middle ground will be key. Yohan Cabaye will again have a crucial role to play then, and will be more confident if Everton are without James McCarthy in the centre of the pitch after he was withdrawn through injury last weekend.

The Frenchman, nevertheless, will have a big role to play at either end for the visitors regardless. Cabaye has won the second most interceptions of any Premier League player this season and that tally of 55 is likely to be on the rise against an Everton side that like to thread passes through the middle of the pitch to Lukaku and Barkley.

In the past the home side have struggled in this fixture but on current form, despite Palace’s impressive away record, the Toffees will rightly be favourites to leapfrog the Eagles upon the final whistle.

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