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Newcastle take on Liverpool this weekend, and Rafael Benitez should take a gamble to turn the Reds’ biggest strength into a weakness.
On the chalkboard
Liverpool and Manchester City have run away with the league this season because their squads have no weakness, but that doesn’t mean they are equally strong in all areas.
One area that Liverpool clearly have the upper hand in is at the back, particularly out wide, where Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been nothing short of sensational throughout the campaign.
The pair have combined for a remarkable 24 assists this season, and are undoubtedly the biggest source of creativity in a team that does not rely on its midfield players to break the opposition down, instead using the full-backs basically as wingers when Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane move more central.
Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….
So how can Benitez stop this? Well, it all starts with the return of one man.
Jonjo time
Jonjo Shelvey has been left behind and forgotten at Newcastle this season. The former Red was nailed on throughout most of Benitez’s tenure, but picked up an injury before Christmas and never made it back into the team.
Now though, with Sean Longstaff injured, Shelvey is the one player on Tyneside capable of turning Liverpool’s overlapping wide men from a strength into a weakness.
Even with Miguel Almiron missing and potentially Ayoze Perez out injured too, Shelvey’s ability to spread perfect passes 60 yards across the St. James’ Park turf will either force Alexander-Arnold and Robertson to retreat, or cause countless counter-attacking opportunities.
Benitez may not have quality in reserve for his injured front men, but he does have speed, and Christian Atsu and Kenedy are more than capable of latching on to Shelvey’s passes and whipping the ball immediately towards Salomon Rondon.
Not only will this strategy give the Magpies and out ball when they are under what will no doubt be immense pressure from the title-chasing Merseysiders, it could just be the thing that causes their guests’ downfall, putting the nail in the coffin of their quest to catch Manchester City.
