With Liverpool against Newcastle United set to take place at Anfield at 12:30 tomorrow, Steve Bruce has held his pre-match press conference.
During the media meeting, he has revealed that his star midfielder Sean Longstaff will be absent for the key game on Merseyside.
Sean Longstaff is set to miss Liverpool v Newcastle United. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Chronicle has reported that Longstaff has been ruled out of the fixture with what Steve Bruce has described as a “freak injury”.
This news will be a massive boost to Jürgen Klopp. The Newcastle academy product is one of United’s key men in the middle of the park. He is a tenacious midfielder that is strong in the tackle. Longstaff is prone to popping up anywhere on the pitch with his intense pressing and is known to try direct balls more often than not.
His performances under Rafa Benitez last year sparked a transfer saga involving Manchester United. The Red Devils were chasing the midfielder throughout the summer, as reported by the Daily Mail. With the player attracting the attention of one of England’s biggest sides, his ability is something that the Magpies are sure to miss in a game that they were already going to struggle in.
Newcastle are expected to line up with three centre backs and two men in the centre of midfield. With Longstaff absent they may be forced to rethink. Liverpool’s intense pressing and energetic midfield three were already going to be a problem for Newcastle’s central pair but without their academy products’ work rate they may be forced to drop an extra man into the middle to contend with the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum.