Football Tips: Crouchy’s Shouts for Newcastle v Liverpool add up to a 9/2 play

Ready for another smashing season of Premier League drama? The dizzying highs, the devastating lows, the whatever kind of middle-of-the-road feeling Fulham experience every year?

Yes, of course you are.

And so is the big man all other big men look up to, Peter Crouch, who is primed for a Sunday’s staging of one of the third-highest scoring pairings in Premier League history – Newcastle v Liverpool. And that’s as good a reason as any to use your FREE Bet Builder on it.

Before you ask, only Liverpool v Tottenham and Arsenal v Tottenham have shared more. Just call me Statto.

So, there’s got to be goals in this, right Crouchy?

Crouchy’s Shouts For Newcastle v Liverpool

Both teams to score: Yes
Alexander Isak to score
William Osula to have 1+ shots on target including woodwork
Malick Thiaw to commit 1+ fouls

A Bet Builder on these selections pays at approximately 9/2 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP

WHEN: Sunday, August 23, 4.30pm
WHERE: St James’ Park, Newcastle
WATCH: Sky Sports Main Event

The situation at Newcastle for Eddie Howe became untenable with his best players being sold. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes were the heart of the midfield in that team. You’ve lost Alexander Isak, a proven goalscorer, the year before, and Anthony Gordon’s gone to Barcelona too.

You can’t consistently compete for Champions League places or aspire to be title contenders while selling like that.

His reputation was certainly enhanced by his time there – he won a cup, got them into the top 4 and they had a good run in the Champions League, and I wouldn’t be all that surprised if they struggled this year now he’s gone.

The new manager, Matthias Jaissle, is an unknown quantity. Of course, this could be one of those amazing appointments – like Arsene Wenger coming from the J-League to Arsenal when very few people in England knew who he was – but it remains to be seen what he brings to the team and I’d be concerned if I was a Newcastle fan.

They have spent some of the money raised on younger replacements. I like that way of thinking in some way – you buy these talents before they’re at their peak and then it’s possible to sell them on if they do well – but it does feel like they are re-investing that money to make money rather than for the team to succeed.

You can buy players who are unproven and they turn out to be £100m stars, but they may not be ready straight away for the Premier League.

There’s been a lot of change at Liverpool this summer too. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s still more business to come before the window shuts and Bradley Barcola or someone like that, a winger basically, would be a great signing. Someone of that calibre would be a huge lift for the fans and club going into the season following the departure of Mo Salah.

And there’s the new manager arriving as well. One of the biggest pluses in Andoni Iraola’s favour coming into Anfield is the football his sides play. It’s what Liverpool fans want to see – high-pressing, recovering the ball quickly and making chances.

That’s what they loved under Jurgen Klopp and I know you can’t keep going back to that era because it was such a special time and the side was so good, but Iraola will play more like that than the possession-for-possession’s-sake football Arne Slot’s Liverpool often put on show last season.

Both Teams to Score: YEs

There might be easier first games than Newcastle away, but Liverpool have a strong record there – unbeaten in nine – and with so much turmoil at St James Park this summer, the crowd can go either way. If Liverpool start well against them then things can turn.

I’m sure Liverpool can get a result here, and I’m leaning towards a win, but with both sides in transition and it