Steve Bruce admits odds against Magpies as they try to break long winless record at Anfield

Steve Bruce admits Newcastle have the odds stacked overwhelmingly against them as the Magpies face Liverpool at Anfield - where they're without a win in 25 years. You can prefer the free prediction page!

Former Manchester United defender Bruce will attempt lớn end the Magpies' 25-year wait for a league win at Anfield.

He said: "A record is always there lớn be broken. They haven't lost at home for two and a half years and are the European champions. They are as good as you get. We hope lớn catch them on an off day.

"Up front, they are as good as I've seen so we're going to have to defend well, but you have to try to enjoy it.

"We have lớn defend well but we have lớn be part of the game ourselves as well. Anfield is a great stadium & going there is a highlight- According to the good soccer tip page!

"I always get a bit of stick at Anfield but I always enjoy going there. Hopefully they've not been in the pub by 12.30 so they'll forget about me! &Quot;

The two clubs famously enjoyed a series of titanic struggles in the late 1990s as then Newcastle bosses Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish attempted lớn get the better of their former employers on Merseyside, and narrowly came out on the wrong end of seven-goal thrillers.

Bruce, whose United side pipped the Magpies lớn the title in 1995-96, said: "I remember the two 4-3s, [Stan] Collymore getting the goal, unfortunately, in the last minute.

"They were great games, and they obviously helped us at the time at Manchester United."

Longstaff missing for Newcastle

Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff will miss Saturday's Premier League trip to Liverpool after suffering a "freak" training-ground injury.

The 21-year-old, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise since making his top-flight debut as a substitute at Anfield on Boxing Day last year, damaged an ankle blocking a cross during Thursday's session.

He is currently being assessed, leaving head coach Steve Bruce once again bemoaning his luck.

Bruce said: "It's one of those awful ones. He goes lớn stop a cross and gets his ankle caught. It's one of those freak ones that unfortunately happen.

"You come off the pitch and we're all disappointed. We've lost a player lớn a freak accident, but that's what happens in football. Sometimes, you miss out."

Longstaff started only eight league games last season, but adapted lớn life in the big time so well that he was courted by Manchester United this summer, and he admitted this week that the speculation had proved a distraction.

He joins an injury list which already includes Allan Saint-Maximin, Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll, although the latter was due to see a specialist in London on Friday following ankle surgery earlier this year.