Kevin Keegan invited to Newcastle-Liverpool game despite Saudi problem

Newcastle when the team goes head-to-head with next month.

are set to host the Reds on December 4, as Eddie Howe's players aim to ascend the rankings. As per , Newcastle is considering inviting Kevin Keegan to the match against Liverpool, with the Toon preparing a special tribute.

It's claimed the former Magpies manager and Reds legend has previously declined such offers. Indeed, Keegan hasn't been seen at a game at St James' Park since his dismissal by Mike Ashley in 2008.

It's believed the 73-year-old has been hesitant to align himself with the new Saudi owners, who took over the club in October 2021. It's also mentioned that Keegan is an admirer of Howe, who has turned the club into one of the Premier League's top teams.

While Howe will be keen to impress his fan, the Magpies haven't managed a win against Liverpool in 15 matches. The last time the Tyneside team triumphed over the Reds was in December 2015; Steve McClaren's team beat Liverpool 2-0 at St James' Park during Jurgen Klopp's inaugural term as head coach.

Georginio Wijnaldum, a future Liverpool midfielder, scored a late winner after an own goal by Martin Skrtel had given Newcastle the lead. Klopp didn't mince his words post-match, admitting: "Nearly everything [went wrong], I would say - the start, the middle and the end. This was obviously not a really good football game.

"It was 50 per cent because of Newcastle, 50 percent because of Liverpool. In a situation like Newcastle's, it's absolutely okay to play like this because they didn't do too badly. They were playing build-up, they didn't create chances, but we didn't create chances either. It was an open game but no rhythm from our side; our defending in the last line was good, the middle didn't defend well together, our midfield pressing was not good, I couldn't see offensive pressing.

"We always had to run the long way in defence. Dejan, Martin and the two full-backs did a really good job. But we were not creative enough so we had no chances and they got the goal and it was something like a Christmas present."

Klopp added: "The second goal I'm not interested in, it's normal, a counter-attack. We have to take this game and think about why it happened – that's not the biggest issue in the world."