Newcastle United vs Liverpool. Premier League.
St James' Park, NewcastleAttendance52,303.
Sunday 1 October 2017 14:15, UK
Newcastle host Liverpool on Super Sunday in a classic Premier League fixture that has a history of producing plenty of fireworks.
Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals (88) against Newcastle than against any other club, included in those fixtures were two memorable 4-3 games in the mid-nineties.
The fixture has produced 52 goals across the last 16 encounters - something that Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez will be well aware of having been in charge of Liverpool for many of those meetings.
Benitez won three major trophies as Liverpool boss while current manager Jurgen Klopp will be aware that they've only picked up one trophy since Benitez's departure.
Liverpool have only won one of their last six games in all competitions since they hammered Arsenal 4-0 at Anfield while the Toon broke their run of three straight wins last weekend with defeat at Brighton.
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is set to start after returning from a domestic suspension.
Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum could face his former club at the expense of Emre Can after an indifferent performance in the Champions League in midweek.
Midfielder Adam Lallana (thigh) is running outside again but is still several weeks from a comeback while right-back Nathaniel Clyne is also recovering well from a back injury.
Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is available after suspension.
The Serbia international has missed the last three games after being found guilty - on video evidence - of violent conduct during the 3-0 victory over West Ham.
Florian Lejeune returns to contention after shaking off an ankle injury, but Benitez otherwise has no fresh injury concerns with only fellow defenders Paul Dummett (hamstring) and Massadio Haidara (knee) missing.
Liverpool could have won 10-1 in the Champions League with the chances they created the other night. With the attacking talent at their disposal they will always create chances and on the big pitch at St James' Park I don't see it being any different.
Newcastle, backed by their home crowd will also go for it which could play into Klopp's side's hands. I did initially write down 3-0 to Liverpool but I'm going to have to change my mind to 3-1 because I don't trust Liverpool at the back. However, Liverpool are class going forward and I'd be shocked if Newcastle coped with them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Liverpool are Sky Bet's 7/10 favourites for the victory with Newcastle priced at 7/2 while the draw is a 29/10 chance. Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah all share favouritism in the first goalscorer betting at 4/1 apiece, while Joselu is considered the hosts' main threat at 13/2 to net first.
Newcastle v Liverpool is this weekend's Fantasy Six-a-Side fixture, with the usual £5,000 up for grabs for the highest scoring team.
