match preview

Newcastle United v Liverpool

theguardian 

Alan Pardew and Brendan Rodgers are friends dating from the days when Liverpools manager served as Pardews youth team coach at Reading. Delighted as Rodgers has been to see his pal dodge the sack as Newcastle have, against all odds, won three consecutive games, he could do with a victory in what his Newcastle counterpart deems one of this divisions most romantic fixtures. If all eyes are on Mario Balotelli, a key sub-plot could revolve around the performances of rival wingers Raheem Sterling and Rolando Aarons. Louise Taylor

Kick-off Saturday 3pm

Venue St James Park

Last season Newcastle Utd 2 Liverpool 2

Live BT Sport 1

Referee A Marriner

This season G2, Y10, R0, 5.0 cards per game

Odds H 14-5 A 1-1 D 14-5

Newcastle United v Liverpool
Newcastle United v Liverpool: probable starters in bold, contenders in light
Newcastle United

Subs from Elliot, Williamson, Anita, Haïdara, Abeid, Rivière, Pérez, R Taylor, Ameobi, Armstrong

Doubtful Cissé (knee), Williamson (knock)

Injured Tioté (calf, 9 Nov), Santon (knee, 22 Nov), De Jong (thigh, 21 Dec)

Suspended None

Form LDLDWW

Discipline Y18 R1

Leading scorer Cissé 4

Liverpool

Subs from Jones, Johnson, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Markovic, Touré, Lambert, Lucas

Doubtful None

Injured Enrique (knee, 8 Nov), Sakho (thigh, 8 Nov), Sturridge (calf, 23 Nov), Flanagan (knee, Dec), Suso (groin, Dec)

Suspended None

Form LLDWWD

Discipline Y18 R0

Leading scorer Sterling 3