Newcastle can take both halves against edgeless Liverpool

Newcastle welcome Liverpool to St. James’s Park on Sunday, and they could fulfil generous 15/2 odds to win both halves and give punters a healthy return.

The Magpies have stunned pundits throughout the season, combining an almost unmatchable work ethic with a vibrant, attacking style of play, and they can put that to good use against an ordinary-looking Liverpool, to further build on their impressive campaign.

Alan Pardew’s men have been ahead by half-time in more than a third of their Premier League matches this season, including their last two, whilst they would also have won 11 of 30 games should only the second half have been accounted for.

In contrast, Liverpool have been ahead at the break on only three of their away trips this term, and have achieved the same amount of second half victories, so this further lends weight to the claim that that 15/2 price is worth taking on.

Also, punters may be inclined to invest in the 7/2 for Newcastle to lead at both the half-time and full-time whistles, bearing these statistics in mind.

The home side have distributed their St. James’s Park goals equally between either half for the season too, notching 11 times both before and after the break, again strengthening the claims for Newcastle to find the net, and manage to triumph in both halves.

Liverpool have been somewhat blunt in front of goal in league competition this season, and with an FA Cup semi-final forthcoming, Kenny Dalglish may choose to rest some key players with Europa League qualification already secured via their Carling Cup success.

There will be no such charity from the Toon Army however, who are desperate to keep their dreams of Champions League qualification alive with a top four finish, which they are currently priced at 20/1 to achieve.