Mike Hughes
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAnother day, another high-profile fixture for Liverpool – who continue to take almost all before them.
Within four days at Anfield last week they brushed aside the European champions and Premier League champions with a swagger and poise that meant the 2-0 scorelines vastly underplayed the Reds’ advantage.
Arne Slot’s achievements so far have been widely applauded and it is easy to see why.
Much has been made of the more measured and controlled approach favoured by the new boss compared with Jurgen Klopp, but one of the many admirable aspects of the victories over Real Madrid and Manchester City was the fast and furious way they set about their opponents.
In both matches their dominance could easily have led to a three or four-goal lead by half-time.
There was an intensity to their play in the first period of both games that was matched by the intelligent way they approached the remaining time.
Confidence and self-belief is now running through the very core of the team, whatever the starting line-up.
Slot has managed the squad impressively. Curtis Jones, in the form of his life, was surprisingly left out of the side for the City game. Yet his replacement, Dominik Szoboszlai, gave his best performance of the season so far.
The injuries to Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley could hardly have come at a worse time, but the depth and quality in the squad means they look capable of coping – or at least so far.
Newcastle at St James’ Park represents another significant challenge, though.
Despite a mostly underwhelming opening third to the season so far, Eddie Howe’s team do have the capacity to cause problems for even the most resolute of defences.
The stadium can be a ferocious and formidable venue, particularly for night matches. It also promises to give us another insight into just how well equipped Liverpool are to becoming a very real deal.
Listen to live BBC Radio Merseyside commentary of Newcastle v Liverpool (95.8 FM, Freeview channel 714 and via BBC Sounds) on Wednesday
Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Liverpool match commentaries
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