BBC Sport pundit claims on Liverpool and Newcastle United – Now fact-checked | OneFootball

Some interesting comments from this BBC Sport ‘expert’ on Newcastle United and Liverpool.

Chris Sutton speaking ahead of Wednesday night at Anfield.

Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United players looking to make it fourteen wins in seventeen matches.

Whilst Liverpool look to extend their current 11 points lead at the top of the Premier League.

Of the top eight in the Premier League table before last weekend’s results, six of the eight lost on Saturday and Sunday, whiles Newcastle United and Liverpool were the only two to win their matches.

Chris Sutton talking to BBC Sport – 24 February 2025:

“This fixture has plenty of history behind it – Liverpool’s 4-3 win at Anfield in 1996 will always be remembered as a Premier League classic.

“Newcastle come into it in good shape after a good win over Nottingham Forest, but the way Liverpool beat Manchester City was extremely impressive.

“It was such a mature performance by Arne Slot’s side to soak up [Man] City’s possession and be so clinical in front of goal.

“I think we know by now that Slot’s side will be hard to beat, while Newcastle are still quite up and down – they were very poor when they went to Etihad Stadium last week.

“They are capable of giving Liverpool a good game but I am going to say that the leaders will take the points, and carry on their title charge.

“Along with Forest striker Chris ‘The Wood Chopper’ Wood, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season, but there is only one candidate to be crowned Player of the Year.

“Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah’s numbers are extraordinary and he looks as hungry as ever. He has been relentless, and he is not done yet.

“Prediction: Liverpool 2 Newcastle 1”

So, is the BBC Sport pundit on the money here?

Difficult to disagree with much of what Chris Sutton has said and indeed predicted, no doubt pretty much all of the pundits and neutrals will be forecasting Liverpool to win and Newcastle United to lose.

However, I do want to talk about the BBC Sport man’s claim that ‘Newcastle are still quite up and down’, the assertion is seemingly pointing towards Eddie Howe’s regularly showing inconsistency with their results, as compared to Liverpool.

Is this true?

I did a bit of fact-checking.

Is it really true that recent weeks, recent months, have seen a very consistent Liverpool and a very inconsistent Newcastle United?

Last 23 matches (all competitions):

Liverpool – Played 23 Won 14 Drawn 6 Lost 3

Newcastle United – Played 23 Won 16 Drawn 2 Lost 5

Last 16 matches (all competitions):

Liverpool – Played 16 Won 9 Drawn 4 Lost 3

Newcastle United – Played 16 Won 13 Drawn 0 Lost 3

Even the last eight matches, Liverpool have won only four of theirs, whilst Newcastle have won five.

Even more recently, Newcastle United winning three of their last four games whilst Liverpool only winning two of their last five.

Over the course of the whole season so far, Liverpool deserve to be where they are, in all three competitions they are still competing in, the same as Newcastle United in the three competitions they remain in.

However, when the BBC Sport pundit wants to make out that in these recent weeks and/or months, that Newcastle United are consistently inconsistent, whilst Liverpool are seamlessly winning pretty much every match, it simply isn’t true.

Liverpool deserve to be favourites to win on Wednesday night BUT the formlines of the two clubs show that it is far from a formality that this will be a home victory.

Wednesday 26 February – Liverpool v Newcastle (8.15pm) TNT Sports

Sunday 2 March –  Newcastle v Brighton (1.45pm) – FA Cup fifth round ITV1

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 16 March – Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm) Carabao Cup final! Sky Sports