Liverpool (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction

Our second home game of the new season and a chance to bounce back from last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Man City, as Eddie Howe's Mags take on Liverpool this Sunday.

We've not beaten Liverpool in any of our last 13 games - our last win was in 2015 - but records are there to be broken. This is a different Newcastle United, a Liverpool side in transition and a team that will be desperate to get revenge on a Reds side who were lucky to beat us once - never mind twice - last season.

The away trip to Anfield was a VAR farce and we were the better side with 10 men when they came to Tyneside. They took an early 2-0 lead and Nick Pope's red killed off all hopes of a comeback, yet we still caused them huge problems despite their man advantage.

A big atmosphere awaits and an early opportunity to get one over our top-four rivals who we beat to a place in the Champions League last season. Hopefully we can wipe that grin from Jurgen Klopp's face, dominate their new-look midfield and make another statement.

Team news

Joelinton is "fine" despite limping off at Man City and Eddie Howe has issues a positive update on Joe Willock. He won't be back until after the international break but is making "really good progress."

Javier Manquillo returned to training on Friday following a groin problem, but Emil Krafth is still being eased back following his ACL injury last year.

For the Reds, Alexis Mac Allister is available after his three-game ban was rescinded and Trent Alexander-Arnold is OK. However, Ibrahima Konate is a "doubt", while Thiago and Curtis Jones have been ruled out. New signing Wataru Endo could make his first Premier League start in midfield.

Predicted line ups

(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

We may have lost last weekend and didn't really lay a glove on Man City, but I think Eddie Howe will stick with the same XI.

Barnes will be pushing Gordon, but the latter was very good at both ends of the pitch against Aston Villa; something he'll need to be against Trent and Salah on Sunday. Isak was anonymous at City but caused Liverpool havoc last season, while Tonali's place in the side can't be under threat based on his five-star display against Villa.

At left-back, there'll be some call for Lewis Hall to come straight in, but that'll be an absolute non-starter for Howe. The 18-year-old has only had a few days training with his new teammates and won't be thrown into the deep end just yet. Changes are possible, with Wilson, Barnes, Anderson and Longstaff all pushing for starts, I just think we'll see Howe stand by the side that blew away Villa in our last home game.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson - Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson - Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister - Salah, Jota, Diaz.

One to watch: Dominik Szoboszlai – The tall attacking midfielder was heavily linked with Newcastle earlier in the summer and impressed in their 3-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend. It'll be interesting to see how he gets on at both ends of the field. Will he be able to cope with our intensity? We shall see.

Prediction

I think this could be a good time to play Liverpool, who are still adjusting following three new midfield signings. For us, we often respond well to defeat and will be determined to get one over Jurgen Klopp's Reds after they (somehow) beat us twice last season.

I'm backing our physicality and high-energy to come out on top. A fast start could be key and I think we'll come out of the traps flying. Isak to score again and Gordon to get off the mark in an entertaining game on Tyneside.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool

HWTL!