Liverpool vs. Newcastle United: What are these 2 really fighting for?

Liverpool prepare to host hostile forces at Anfield tonight in the guise of Newcastle United, who will be heading to Merseyside hoping to avenge a 2-1 defeat handed to them by the Reds earlier in the season.

With the Merseyside giants sitting top of the premier league, the Magpies will sure hold some grudges over the 3 points stolen from them earlier in August after taking the initial lead to a 10-man Liverpool team on the day.

However, with topic of revenge aside, both teams head into this fixture facing contrasting fortunes on the form table, with Liverpool currently the side to be envious of compared to a Newcastle United whose glorious form now seem a pale shadow of its 2022/23 form that was by far a contrast to the Reds’.

The Magpies in a long throw from their 2022/23 season form, find themselves sitting 9th in the premier league table, 1 point over 10th place Chelsea and 11 points off the top 4 and the European spots, which ironically seems more reminiscent of where their opponent were last season.

Without a win in their last 3 games, Newcastle United are in supposedly their worst form since the emergence of Eddie Howe as manager. They sit on 8 defeats, 3 more than they had in the 2022/23 season, and 1 less than Liverpool had in same season overall, with 19 more games still to play for.

The Reds on the other hand, for the first half of the season, have built an impressive form that has resulted only 1 defeat this season; the 2-1 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur, to leave them currently on top on 2 points.

Narratives are out already on a supposed title winning challenge for Liverpool, with Newcastle United out of the picture either for a title challenge or a return for next season’s Champions League.

But those are rather mere paper talks meant to stir discussions on the trend, which should not disguise from the real question heading into tonight’s game, which stands to be the real goal either side has for the season.

Is it a quest for the European spot for both teams, or are Liverpool truly aiming higher like the narratives paint them?