Facing the only team in the Premier League to have bested them this season, Newcastle United welcome Liverpool to St James' Park on Saturday evening.
The Magpies' spate of stalemates continued with a 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth at the weekend, while the Reds brought joy to the Anfield faithful by beating Everton 2-0 in the Merseyside derby.
Match preview
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Newcastle's Champions League destiny is very much in their own hands still, but failure to convert draws into wins has harmed their pursuit of a podium finish while also allowing the continental hopefuls below them to make up ground, as the injuries piled up for Eddie Howe's side on the South Coast.
Travelling to Bournemouth for another reunion with his old club, Howe witnessed Marcos Senesi draw first blood for the Cherries on the hour mark, but Miguel Almiron's 10th goal of the season just before the break ensured that Newcastle would leave with a share of the spoils.
That two-goal stalemate may have extended Newcastle's unbeaten run in the top flight to a whopping 17 games, but the fourth-placed Magpies now only hold a two-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur - albeit with a game in hand - and failure to glean a positive result here could blow the Champions League race wide open.
Being held to draws against Leeds United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace in particular have not gone down well with the Newcastle faithful, who have been left to rue their side's lack of ruthlessness in recent weeks - Howe's men have a mere three goals to boast from their last six top-flight games.
Nevertheless, the hosts remain unbeaten at St James' Park in 12 Premier League games and have shipped a league-low six goals on home soil throughout the campaign, so even a Liverpool side bouncing with renewed confidence will have their work cut out here.
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Apprehension may have been creeping in for the Liverpool faithful as they welcomed an Everton side fresh from beating league leaders Arsenal, but the Toffees' new manager bounce under Sean Dyche did not extend to a Merseyside derby success as the Reds reverted to type.
A lightning-quick Reds counter-attack in the first half ended with Mohamed Salah tapping home - helped by some atrocious positioning from Jordan Pickford - before Cody Gakpo tapped home at the back post for his first goal in Liverpool colours.
The Jurgen Klopp fist pumps were out in full force as Liverpool finally posted their first Premier League win of 2023 - ending a four-game winless run in the top flight in the process, but the visitors are still jostling for position in mid-table in ninth place, nine points off the top four with a game in hand on Newcastle.
European football is certainly not out of the question for Klopp's side should Monday's win act as a catalyst for better fortunes to come, but no Reds fans will need reminding of their away defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers since the turn of the year, with nine goals conceded and only one scored in that dreadful run.
Only two of Liverpool's last 10 Premier League games on the road have ended in victory, but they left it late to defeat Newcastle 2-1 at Anfield back in August, and Klopp's team also inflicted the Magpies' most recent home loss - a 1-0 success at St James' Park at the end of April.
Team News
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No fewer than three Newcastle starters were forced off through injury during the draw with Bournemouth, where Joe Willock, Allan Saint-Maximin and Almiron were all enforced changes, and the former will expect to sit this one out with a hamstring concern - he could return for next weekend's EFL Cup final, though.
However, Howe is confident that Almiron will shake off the stamp to his hand, while Saint-Maximin is also nursing a minor knock and could also make a rapid recovery to start here - the same goes for Callum Wilson (hamstring) and Jamaal Lascelles (personal).
The suspended Bruno Guimaraes remains absent alongside Javier Manquillo, Emil Krafth and Matt Targett, while a lack of midfield options could see ex-Liverpool youngster Anthony Gordon come into the fray from the first whistle.
Meanwhile, Liverpool received a triple injury boost with the returns of Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk and Roberto Firmino to the matchday squad against Everton, and Arthur could potentially be the next to join them this weekend after returning to full training from thigh surgery.
The Anfield treatment room has a much more empty feel to it now, but Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz, Calvin Ramsay and Thiago Alcantara are all absent, with the latter expected to miss a few weeks of action after picking up a fresh hip injury.
Aside from the likely return of Van Dijk, Klopp should see no reason to alter a winning formula after Monday's timely success, as Salah goes in search of the two goals that will see him draw level with Robbie Fowler (128) as the Reds' top scorer in Premier League history.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Almiron, Longstaff, Joelinton; Saint-Maximin, Isak, Gordon
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
We say: Newcastle United 1-1 Liverpool
Liverpool have not drawn a Premier League game away from home since September, but it has been stalemate after stalemate for Newcastle, whose lack of out-and-out midfield options will do them no favours on Saturday.
Whether Liverpool can indeed kick on following Monday's derby success remains to be seen, but breaking down the resolute Newcastle backline is a tough test for any foe - although the hosts' record in front of goal still leaves a lot to be desired - and we can envisage yet another low-scoring draw at St James' Park.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
