By: Fasika Zelealem
26/07/20, 16:00 PM Kick-Off
2019/20 Premier League Season, Week 38
After Liverpool’s 5-3 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night, the team made their way to the Kop End and proudly lifted their Premier League for the first time.
The celebrations could have been bittersweet if Chelsea’s comeback was full circle, but Liverpool’s resolve and constant pressure broke Chelsea when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s strike was too powerful for Kepa to make it 5-3 in the 84th minute.
The team got back to winning ways after their 2-1 loss to Arsenal and managed to secure a third consecutive unbeaten Premier League home campaign as well as having the opportunity to equal Manchester City’s record of most wins in a Premier League season (32), should they defeat Newcastle on the final day of the season.
We normally see a few youngsters get minutes on the final day of the season, but with an important record on the line, I expect Jurgen Klopp to play his strongest side possible.
Liverpool faces Newcastle United who has been safe from relegation for a while now and hasn’t been good enough to challenge for a European spot and therefore has been drifting since the restart.
They’ve won just two games since the restart and before their 0-0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on the 20th July, they went on a three-match losing streak that included a 5-0 loss to Manchester City.
Liverpool Odds to End the Season in Style
Newcastle sits 13th in the table on 44 points and have scored just 37 goals this season, only three teams have scored less than Newcastle this season.
Their top scorer this season is Jonjo Shelvey with six goals as £40 million signing Joelinton has scored just two league goals this season in a majorly disappointing season for the Brazilian in his first campaign in English football.
Things don’t improve for Newcastle when you look at their recent record against Liverpool with just one win in the last five years against the champions. Liverpool is unbeaten against Newcastle in their last six meetings including a current four-match winning streak.
Liverpool won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in September and has scored at least three goals against Newcastle in their last three meetings.
Sportsbooks odds on Liverpool equalling Manchester City’s win record with a win against Newcastle opens at -275. Odds on Newcastle claiming their first win against Liverpool in five years opens at +650. Odds on a draw between the teams open at +425.
How Difficult Will it be for Liverpool to Retain the League?
Despite winning the league in record fashion this season I’m almost certain Manchester City will be earmarked as the oddsmakers” favorites to win the league, as they were this season.
The continual improvement of Manchester United and Chelsea will be a tough test for Liverpool, especially if they don’t strengthen for the second year in a row.
Liverpool may be Premier League champions, European champions, and World champions, but that does not exempt them from improving their squad depth. The likes of Divock Origi, Dejan Lovren and Xherdan Shaqiri look set to leave the club as the club need more quality signings if they want to continue to challenge for the trophies, they’ve won last season and this year.
