LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE UNITED: PREDICTED LINEUP

Liverpool host Newcastle United at Anfield tonight, with the Reds looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season. Here’s how we expect Jürgen Klopp to line his side up for the encounter. For a match preview, you can head over here.

This feels like the last game before a host of the injured contingent make their return to action. Diogo Jota is expected back in training tomorrow, with Thiago Alcantara and Calvin Ramsay following suit not long after that.

Curtis Jones and Joel Matip returned to training yesterday and could be named on the bench tonight. Besides that, it’s pretty much the same squad available from the Bournemouth game.

Alisson will be in goal and aiming to keep back to back clean sheets. In the backline, Trent will continue at right back and will have his hands full with the electric Saint-Maximin.

Robertson should continue at left back as well after finding a bit of form at the weekend. He’s been well rotated with Tsimikas so far, and with the Merseyside derby to come on Saturday, could even be rested here.

It feels a bit too soon to be talking of rest though, with the Reds enjoying a one game a week schedule so far. At centre half, Gomez will continue alongside Van Dijk. The Englishman will have to be switched on to cover for Trent.

Matip will have to make do with a place on the bench, with only a day’s worth of training under his belt. He will have an eye on marking his return in the derby. The Champions League begins next week as well, so there’ll be loads of games for Matip and Gomez to rotate in.

In midfield, Jürgen Klopp is unlikely to tinker with the trio he named last time out. Fabinho, Elliott and Henderson were excellent on Saturday and will likely start together again. Harvey in particular is in very good nick and netted his very first Premier League goal over the weekend.

Henderson played off the left and did a decent enough job despite it being his wrong side. The return of Curtis Jones should see more room for rotation in the coming weeks.

Upfront, it’s once again pretty straightforward. Diaz and Salah will start on the left and right wing respectively, with Firmino playing through the middle. The Brazilian was sensational against Bournemouth and will have to be at it tonight.

The Magpies employ a back five system with three mean centre backs in Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn. Bobby will have to work his magic to pull them out of position and create for his widemen.

Predicted team:

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Elliott, Henderson, Salah, Firmino, Diaz.

Subs: Adrian, Phillips, Matip, Tsimikas, Bajcetic, Clark, Jones, Milner, Carvalho.