'Threat' - Arne Slot singles out two Newcastle United players ahead of Liverpool clash
Newcastle United face Premier League leaders Liverpool having not won at Anfield in 30 years.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is wary of the attacking threat Newcastle United pose - as he singled out two Newcastle United players.
Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon were on the scoresheet when Newcastle held the runaway Premier League leaders to a 3-3 draw at St James’ Park in December.
And ahead of their visit to Anfield on Wednesday night, Slot has highlighted both players whilst praising Eddie Howe’s intense and aggressive style of play.
“It's an understatement to say that he's [Isak] in fine form. I think he's in excellent form,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference. “Also over there it's the team performance that will help us [in] controlling him. So the more ball possession we have, the easier it is to control him, although he is definitely a threat on the counter-attack as well.
“We've got two very, very, very good centre-backs, and that's definitely what you need if you face a striker with the quality of Alexander Isak.
“But it's not only about him, I like the style of play that Eddie Howe introduced there. They are always a team that has a very good game plan, they are really intense with and without the ball, [a] high-intense tempo in the game, so that helps a No.9 as well because the better your teammates are, the more chances you get.
“He's not the only offensive threat they have – I think [Anthony] Gordon and the right-winger as well, so they are a big threat. It's not only about him but he's definitely having a great season.
“They have so much offensive threat. I think normally they are not a team that concedes so many goals because they are very aggressive in defending as well.
“I saw – not for this game but just out of interest – the semi-final they played against Arsenal and we all know how well Arsenal are when it comes to attacking, also in defending, but in this situation in attacking and they just kept them away from their goal by defending really strong, maybe similar to what we did at City – defending with 10 or 11 players.
“They can score goals but they are also able to defend really strong, and that is what makes them such a difficult team to play against.”
Slot’s side are 20 points above Newcastle in the Premier League table, with their only defeat coming against Nottingham Forest earlier in the campaign. The Magpies haven’t beaten Liverpool since 2015, while their last victory at Anfield was 30 years ago.