The Reds earned two defining victories of the Arne Slot era so far by beating Real Madrid and Manchester City 2-0 at Anfield within days.
The latter win meant the Merseysiders moved nine points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table and a further two ahead of Pep Guardiola’s defending champions.
However, the injury problems are continuing to mount for Liverpool, who now enter the hectic and relentless festive fixture run.
Their recent huge home games will now be followed by potential banana-skin trips to Newcastle and inner-city rivals Everton three days later.
The latter win meant the Merseysiders moved nine points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table and a further two ahead of Pep Guardiola’s defending champions.
However, the injury problems are continuing to mount for Liverpool, who now enter the hectic and relentless festive fixture run.
Their recent huge home games will now be followed by potential banana-skin trips to Newcastle and inner-city rivals Everton three days later.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies have struggled for consistency this season, with a draw with Crystal Palace seeing them slip to eleventh.
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Newcastle vs Liverpool: Team news
The hosts are sweating on the fitness of Alexander Isak, who has scored two goals in four Premier League games against Liverpool.
The Swede was forced off with an apparent hip issue at Selhurst Park on Saturday, but the update afterwards was a positive one.
Howe confirmed Isak had suffered from a contact injury rather than any muscle problem, but the quick turnaround may avoid him being risked.
Callum Wilson is fit and would be a natural deputy should the 25-year-old be sidelined, but Anthony Gordon offers a different option.
The former Everton star was heavily linked with a summer move to Liverpool but has since reaffirmed his future on Tyneside.
He has operated as a false nine when Isak has been unavailable and scored from that position in the draw with Man City in September.
Liverpool have just a 72-hour turnaround from beating City to reset themselves to go again.
Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas were both spotted on crutches on Sunday, with fellow defender Conor Bradley is ruled out until 2025.
Alisson Becker is still not ready to return, so the same back five that kept a clean sheet against City will continue here.
Caoimhin Kelleher will deputise between the sticks, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson operating out wide.
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk, whose side have conceded just eight Premier League goals so far this season, will be partnered again by Joe Gomez.
Gomez was linked with joining Newcastle in the deal for Gordon in June but Konate’s injury has offered him a Liverpool lifeline.
The regular interchange of Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones is likely, with the latter reclaiming a starting berth in the No.10 role.
Slot’s other favoured swap has been on the left wing, with Cody Gakpo scoring in the wins over both Madrid and City last week.
The Dutchman has often had to play second fiddle to Luis Diaz, who started as a false nine to combat Guardiola’s backline.
The Colombian looks likely to be rested here though, not least to avoid playing the same system Newcastle could deploy with Gordon.
Diaz is the only attacker, bar the ever-present Mohamed Salah, to have crossed 1,000 minutes under Slot so far this term.
He was also the only player among Sunday’s attacking three not to have been substituted – with a breather here the likely reasoning.
Darwin Nunez’s leading highlight from his mixed Liverpool tenure remains the two late goals he scored in this fixture last season.
The Uruguayan, who has scored just twice in the Premier League this term, struck the same amount in one late cameo at St James’ Park to help ten-man Liverpool complete a remarkable comeback win.
NEWS SOURCE:TALKSPORT
