Frånvaroläge: Elliot(långtidsskadad), Jones(tillbaka i träning, osäker), Philips(skadad), Origi(skadad)
Trolig startelva (4-3-3): Alisson Alexander-Arnold, Matip van Dijk, Robertson – Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago – Salah, Jota, Mané
Tankar om elvan: Det är match igen på söndag, så kanske kommer det att roteras en del till kvällens drabbning, men det är samtidigt relativt längesen vi spelade match och de flesta bör vara utvilade. Jag skulle kunna tänka mig att Klopp väntar med att kasta in Firmino till matchen mot Spurs, så anfallstrion bör vara den ovan. Mittfältet känns mest osäkert, där skulle kunna både Milner och Oxlade-Chamberlain vara alternativ i den här matchen, som ändå måste ses som den lättaste av veckans två. Jag hoppas att Klopp fortsätter med Fabinho och Thiago tillsammans, om någon ska vilas bör det vara Henderson, då han och Milner gör liknande jobb på planen. Thiagos passningsspel kommer behövas mot ett Newcastle som säkerligen kommer låta oss vara bollförande. Kanske kan Tsimikas kliva in för Robertson, men vi vet ju också att Klopp ogärna låter vår skotte vila i onödan.
Newcastle status – Jake Jackmann(@JakeJackmann)
I think there is cautious optimism. It has been ongoing for a while, so it is a relief that it has come to a close. The main feeling has been delight at removing Mike Ashley from the club. He was a cancer and our current position is directly his fault. It is difficult to get too optimistic about the future until our league position is resolved. There is less fear of relegation now. It would be a setback, but our long term future is in the Premier League, even if we do get relegated this year. The moral issues are tough to tackle, but we know football is dirty. It prioritises money over anything else. It’s not the responsibility of Newcastle fans to take a stand on this.
2. Steve Bruce left a while ago and was replaced by Eddie Howe, what do you think about that appointment?
We needed to get rid of Steve Bruce. The change under Howe has been obvious. There is a better team spirit and the players are training a lot more often. Results haven’t come yet, but the performances against Brentford, Norwich and Burnley were encouraging. We deserved more than five points from that. The Leicester result was awful, but the overall stats of the games show some improvement in both halves of the pitch. Our biggest problem is confidence. Our players don’t have it and it causes lots of individual errors.
3. The new owners Will probably invest a lot of money at your squad in the upcoming seasons, which players currently at your club do you think Will stay long term? Which players are good enough?
Probably not many. We will need a complete squad overhaul over the coming years. The pace of which will be determined by which league we are playing in next season. If we go down, a lot of players will get another year. Allan Saint-Maximin, Martin Dubravka, Joe Willock and Callum Wilson are likely to be those that could stay for a while. Not too many more.
4. We have a transfer Window coming up in january, what do you expect to see at Newcastle?
We are probably going to spend a lot of money and have our pants pulled down, as every other club will see us coming. We need to improve the defence and midfield most of all. I’d expect a right back, two centre backs and a defensive midfielder to be signed.
5. You are currently in the relegation zone, why do you think you are in that situation? Because we were a Premier League club in only name under Ashley and Bruce. The investment into the squad was put to one side as Ashley knew he was selling and Bruce went through the motions as a coach. We didn’t train enough and when we did, it was coaching you’t expect in a previous era. The squad weren’t fit enough or coached in any sort of style. I have faith in Howe and the improvements are obvious, but he still has a huge task to keep us up.
6. Where do you see Newcastle in five years?
Hopefully progressing as a club and challenging at the right end of the Premier League. It will take years for the club to progress to the level they want to. Probably much longer than five years, but hopefully, we are seeing progression and perhaps, we may have ended our wait for a trophy…
7. What are your thoughts on the game at Anfield?
It’s going to be very very tough for us. I can’t see anything other than a comfortable Liverpool win. Although I do expect one of the top three to get beaten surprisingly over this break. It happens every year due to the fixture congestion and rotation. Why not us?