Hugo Ekitike could become Liverpool’s first player since Daniel Sturridge to score in his first three appearances for the club if he nets against Newcastle on Monday night. Sturridge did the trick in 2013 after arriving for £12 million, scoring against Mansfield Town, Manchester United and Norwich to start his Reds career in flying form. Now, more than a decade later, Ekitike has already found the net against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield and Bournemouth in the Premier League, and the £79 million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt is averaging a goal or assist every 47.7 minutes.
Mo Salah is chasing another landmark as well. A single goal against Newcastle would elevate him into outright fourth place on the Premier League’s all-time scoring list, where he currently sits with 187 goals. Only Alan Shearer, Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney have more, with Salah tied to Andrew Cole on the tally before the next strike.
Another big storyline involves Newcastle without their top scorer Alexander Isak. Isak has tallied 54 Premier League goals in 86 appearances for the Magpies, including three in five against Liverpool. He led Newcastle last season with 23 league goals, with Salah, on 29, the only player ahead in the top flight. In his absence, Newcastle have gone six league matches without a win and have failed to score in four of those. Anthony Gordon will lead the line for the home side, but he has not found the net in his last 16 appearances for club and country and has gone 15 top-flight games without a goal.
For Eddie Howe, the head-to-head record against Liverpool provides a stern test. Howe’s results against the Reds since taking charge of Newcastle read 2 wins in 22 across all competitions, with two draws and 18 defeats. In league play, he has claimed just one win in his eight meetings with Liverpool as Newcastle boss, and a 3-3 draw at Anfield last December remains his only point in his recent runs against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Liverpool arrive at St James’ Park riding an impressive run, unbeaten in eight visits to Newcastle (five wins, three draws). The Reds have been prolific on the road in this fixture, scoring 51 Premier League goals away to Newcastle—the best return of any club at the Magpies’ stadium aside from West Ham and Tottenham. Across all venues in the league, Liverpool have notched 317 goals against Newcastle in 176 meetings, with only Tottenham and Aston Villa boasting higher total goals against Newcastle for the Reds.
Taken together, the match presents a fascinating clash of form and lineage. Ekitike’s early impact will be tested against a Newcastle side already weakened by Isak’s absence, while Salah looks to cement his legacy with another milestone. For Liverpool, maintaining their positive away record at Newcastle and continuing their ability to break down a historically stubborn opponent will be key. For Newcastle, the challenge is to adapt without Isak while keeping their attack productive against a team that has long been a difficult fixture.
Summary: A high-stakes clash at St James’ Park features Hugo Ekitike chasing a Sturridge-like start, Mo Salah pursuing a place among the Premier League’s all-time scorers, and Newcastle aiming to overcome Isak’s absence with Anthony Gordon leading the line. The outcome could hinge on how well Liverpool’s away form translates to this ground and how Howe’s side cope without their top scorer against one of their toughest opponents.
Additional note: If you’re planning a preview piece, this match also highlights the strategic balance between Liverpool’s high-press approach and Newcastle’s need to unlock compact defenses without Isak, a debate that will likely shape how both teams set up and rotate their attacking lines.