How Rafa Benitez's Newcastle will try to stop Liverpool scoring

Newcastle haven't been great at home this season. Of the nine games played at St James' Park, seven have ended in defeats and just two as victories - they've only scored seven goals there all season.

Thankfully, their next fixture, a scary looking match against Liverpool, is being played away - Newcastle's home from home. Rafa Benitez has managed to get Newcastle to 10th place in the away table (14th in the real one) with a goal difference of zero and seems to have found a way of playing that frustrates his side's hosts, whoever they are. 

Could the ex-Liverpool man be the first to inflict defeat on Jurgen Klopp's side?

The lowest of blocks

Benitez doesn't mess around in games against big teams. A 5-4-1 shape is the go-to and we can expect to see that at Anfield, with Newcastle set up to block the path to goal and make this one as boring as possible. Liverpool vs Newcastle could be one of those frustrating 80 per cent possession games, destined to produce a line of commentary critiquing it as being "like a training game".

That's essentially what Benitez wants. By making the game boring, the crowd will quieten, the energy will lower and Newcastle might be able to escape with a point... or even snatch a goal should a set-piece or counter-attack opportunity present itself.

Newcastle's three centre-backs will deny space for Liverpool's wide forwards (Sadio Mane and Mo Salah) helped by a midfield which doesn't drift too far from the defensive line.

The full-backs are essentially extra central defenders in this setup, with the wide midfielder dropping to block a pass inside the pitch. This forces a hopeful cross into a congested area, or as in Klopp's possession based system, a pass backwards, then switched to the opposite wing.

The defence and midfield then shift towards ball-side of the pitch. Play is forced wide, the pass inside is blocked and the next pass must go backwards. A moment of genius, a clever ball over the top from a defender or a trick to go past a man are then Liverpool's best hopes of creating chances.

How to break down the block

Klopp's method of breaking down these types of defences is to throw everything at them and stretch the spaces by shifting the ball quickly. If a defender cuts out one pass, a little gang of forwards hounds him down until he either boots the ball out of play or accidentally hands possession back in advanced areas. This is the counter-press, or when associated with Klopp, the 'gegenpress'.

By working a defence from side to side and forcing turnovers near the opposition goal, Liverpool can keep opposition teams pinned back and wear them down. This season they haven't been quite the relentless force we know them to be and have adopted a more measured approach, allowing slightly more time and space to teams who don't really want the ball.

Doing this helps draw the opposition out of their low defensive shape a little, which improves the quality and quantity of space available to attack once the press starts proper. Benitez will be aware of any traps Klopp's team tries to set and must have his players diligently aware of the dangers that lie in midfield.

The lonely striker

Salomon Rondon best not gorge himself on Christmas festivities since he's going to be doing a lot of unrewarding running, and although he is Newcastle's most likely source of an unlikely goal, much of his work will be holding the ball up, gaining territory and staying close to the Liverpool 'six' (Jordan Henderson or Gini Wijnaldum).

Rondon must put pressure on Liverpool's deep-lying playmaker so that he can't simply pick and choose his passes. Newcastle's defensive line will be deep to prevent the trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino running in behind, but whoever has the ball in Liverpool's midfield will look for opportunities to chip passes over the top.

Benitez has said that it would be a miracle were Newcastle to avoid relegation this season. It would be a superb achievement if they were to simply prevent Liverpool from scoring in this one. If anyone can mastermind a way to do that, it's Benitez.