Liverpool will look to continue their good form in the Premier League when they take on Newcastle United on New Year’s Day.
Anthony Taylor will take over as referee between Liverpool and Newcastle United on New Year’s Day.The Reds will be looking to complete a domestic double against the Magpies after a stunning win at the end of August. Darwin Nunes, who came on as a second-half substitute, added 10 points and led Liverpool to victory.
Jurgen Klopp’s men scored after 30 minutes, Anthony Gordon taking the lead and Virgil van Dijk being sent off three minutes later.
The Champions League clash between the two rivals begins in 2024, with the clubs separated in seventh place and 13 points adrift of each other.
A dip in form saw Eddie Howe’s men move to Merseyside after losing to Luton Town and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Newcastle have been in the blue half of the city this season and suffered a disappointing night as they lost 3-0 to Everton at Goodison Park.
Taylor will be at the center of the game at Anfield. The 45-year-old has played 56 games for Liverpool, the most of his professional career and eight ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Reds won 31 games and lost just nine in that period. Klopp’s men have drawn two games under Taylor this season – the first leg against Chelsea and away to Brighton & Hove Albion in October – with Liverpool conceding a penalty.
This will be Taylor’s 33rd appearance for Newcastle and only the second time he has taken charge of a meeting between the Reds and the North East club. Referee Nick Pope was sent off for offside when Liverpool beat the Dark Ones 2-0 at St James’ Park in February 2023.
Taylor will be assisted by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, but the focus will likely turn to the VAR officials at Stokely Park. Liverpool have had bad technical decisions in their last two games against Arsenal and Burnley.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick was denied by Gunners captain Martin Odegaard after the Norwegian was adjudged to have slipped. Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott saw their efforts go in vain against Burnley on Boxing Day.
Gakpo headed home after collecting a loose ball in the 18-yard box but Paul Tierney adjudged that Darwin Nunes had brought down Charlie Taylor. Elliott’s finish was disallowed by VAR.
Despite the contact being replayed – it looked minimal – Mohamed Salah was adjudged to have intervened in the offside position in the second half.The Egyptian was pushed off his line by Clarets defender Jordan Beyer as the 20-year-old converted after cutting in.
Diogo Jota would have sealed the win when he returned from injury.Stuart Atwell, who criticized Klopp for not calling a “flagrant foul” for the third goal after the 3-1 defeat at Brentford in January, was appointed video assistant referee, while Mark Scholes was named assistant referee .
