Liverpool

Image source, PA Media

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to Amazon Prime after the 3-3 draw against Newcastle: "I have mixed feelings, we were outstanding in the second half but we were not good enough in the first half. Maybe 3-3 is what the game deserved.

"They were really aggressive and forced us into mistakes but we were so much better in the second half. I knew the game could be changed around, we were much better with the ball.

"After the week we had, we could change the game which is a very positive thing to take. Every time we need Mo Salah, he scores a goal.

"We are hoping and expecting he can continue this for a long time. He was outstanding in the second half, he did many special things for us."

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Six matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Manchester City v Nottingham Forest

• Everton v Wolves

• Newcastle v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Southampton v Chelsea

• Arsenal v Manchester United (20:15 GMT) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Aston Villa v Brentford (20:15 GMT)

All kick-off times are 19:30 GMT unless stated. Commentary of all six games available on the BBC Sport website and app.

Follow all the action and reaction here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool look like a juggernaut that no-one seems capable of stopping. Even the contractual uncertainty over the beloved and still utterly brilliant Mo Salah, the imperious Virgil van Dijk and classy Trent Alexander-Arnold isn't spooking the fans in any discernible way. That really is saying something.

The Kopites must think that if they can lose Jurgen Klopp and still stay on an upward trajectory, then they probably ought to trust the process whoever is on the pitch.

For his part, if Arne Slot keeps this momentum going, they will be mentioning him alongside Bill Shankly, Kenny Dalglish and Klopp soon enough.

Over the space of 90 minutes against Manchester City, Liverpool became undisputed favourites to take the title.

They still are not certainties by any calculation, even with a nine-point lead over their current nearest challengers Chelsea and Arsenal - but they have the edge.

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Mike Hughes
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Another day, another high-profile fixture for Liverpool - who continue to take almost all before them.

Within four days at Anfield last week they brushed aside the European champions and Premier League champions with a swagger and poise that meant the 2-0 scorelines vastly underplayed the Reds' advantage.

Arne Slot's achievements so far have been widely applauded and it is easy to see why.

Much has been made of the more measured and controlled approach favoured by the new boss compared with Jurgen Klopp, but one of the many admirable aspects of the victories over Real Madrid and Manchester City was the fast and furious way they set about their opponents.

In both matches their dominance could easily have led to a three or four-goal lead by half-time.

There was an intensity to their play in the first period of both games that was matched by the intelligent way they approached the remaining time.

Confidence and self-belief is now running through the very core of the team, whatever the starting line-up.

Slot has managed the squad impressively. Curtis Jones, in the form of his life, was surprisingly left out of the side for the City game. Yet his replacement, Dominik Szoboszlai, gave his best performance of the season so far.

The injuries to Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley could hardly have come at a worse time, but the depth and quality in the squad means they look capable of coping - or at least so far.

Newcastle at St James' Park represents another significant challenge, though.

Despite a mostly underwhelming opening third to the season so far, Eddie Howe's team do have the capacity to cause problems for even the most resolute of defences.

The stadium can be a ferocious and formidable venue, particularly for night matches. It also promises to give us another insight into just how well equipped Liverpool are to becoming a very real deal.

Listen to live BBC Radio Merseyside commentary of Newcastle v Liverpool (95.8 FM, Freeview channel 714 and via BBC Sounds) on Wednesday

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Liverpool match commentaries

Explore Liverpool content on BBC Sounds

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Newcastle striker Alexander Isak appears to have ruled himself in for Wednesday's Premier League game against leaders Liverpool.

In his pre-match news conference on Tuesday, Magpies boss Eddie Howe stated that Isak had not been in training following the hip injury he picked up against Crystal Palace that forced him to be withdrawn.

While Howe did not expect it to be a long-term problem, he said it would be about "time and pain management" for the forward.

But speaking to Bein Sports, Isak said: "It was a knock to my hip and it was too painful to carry on - but it's developed pretty good so, I feel good and hopefully 100%."

When asked whether he is fit to face Liverpool at St James' Park, he replied: "That's the plan."

Isak has four goals and two assists in 11 appearances this season in the Premier League.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 14 he takes on James Ryan, bassist with rock band The Slow Readers Club.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Newcastle have looked a little flat recently, and have been lacking a cutting edge.

This is still a tough game for Liverpool, though, off the back of such a big week for them with wins over Real Madrid and Manchester City.

The Magpies have already beaten Arsenal at St James' Park this season and they are certainly capable of getting something against Liverpool too, but you just cannot back against the leaders at the moment.

Arne Slot has such great strength in depth right through his squad and they can win games in different ways. Even if they do drop points here, their bubble is not going to burst any time soon.

Ryan's prediction: 1-1

I am purely basing this on my dislike of Liverpool. I need Newcastle to get something, just to slow Liverpool down a bit.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Newcastle have lost their past six Premier League games against Liverpool, and are without a win in 15 against the Reds since a 2-0 win in December 2015 (D4 L11).

Liverpool have won 11 Premier League games in which they have trailed against the Magpies - the most comeback wins one side has against another in the competition's history.

"It's a big week [for Liverpool] but they now have a bit of breathing room," Rory Smith, the New York Times' soccer correspondent believes.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Smith said that the Reds have a strong core of players "that have been there and done it".

Smith said: "They know how to put together a season of 90-plus points and they now have a lead to play with.

"It's very early, but they do have the experience to see it through."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton is the guest on the latest episode of the Sacked In The Morning podcast.

He's been speaking about the Reds' title challenge and was asked if the Premier League is Liverpool's to lose: "It's still early. Everyone's putting that out there. What I'm saying is, if you blow up from here, you're not very good. That's not the case. They've got themselves into a good position. That's all it is. Just in a good position at the moment. Still a lot of games, still a lot of points to be played for.

"When you know what the Premier League is like, you've seen Man City in the last four seasons. They've been an absolute phenomenon. They're struggling at the moment, and that's because Rodri is out. He's just been such an influence for Manchester City. He's not there at the moment and they're just struggling a little bit. But Liverpool just have to continue doing what they're doing.

"I watched the game against Southampton, and I've got to be honest, defensively, they weren't quite switched on. But with the front players that they've got, you always think Liverpool are going to score goals. I think they'll outscore the opposition. And if they can keep most of the players fit, Liverpool have got that quality to score goals and win matches.

"The month of December is absolutely huge. Ask me after December, I'll give you a better indication where they are and where they could end up."

Listen to the episode in full on BBC Sounds

Liverpool are planning to make a combined £91m January move for Bournemouth's 21-year-old Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez and Real Sociedad's Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 25. (Teamtalk), external

Real Madrid only want to sign Liverpool's England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, on a free transfer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot responded to Gary Neville's U-turn on the Reds' title chances this season after predicting they would finish fifth in the Premier League table.

Following Sunday's win over Manchester City, Neville told Sky Sports: "There's a real expectation but they'll be very, very strong favourites." And Slot joked on Tuesday: "Gary Neville had a different opinion about us at the start of the season!"

The Dutchman went on to play down the 'favourites' tag and said "we’re not even halfway through the season yet".

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough forward Tommy Conway admits he loves playing alongside on-loan Liverpool winger Ben Doak.

Conway, 22, scored either side of half-time in the 3-1 win over Hull City thanks to two assists from Doak, who he also plays with for the Scotland national team.

"I love him, not only on the pitch does he cause carnage and creates but off the pitch as well, he's a good mate of mine," Conway told BBC Radio Tees.

"When we're away with Scotland, we're always chilling out together.

"He said he's going to send me the invoice and I did say 'look Beno, I had to do a little bit for you'.

"You always know he's going to create something - it gives me confidence and makes me think of my next move so I need to make sure I'm in the box and timing my run correctly to get on the end of it."

Since Conway made his summer move to the Riverside from Bristol City, he has notched eight goals in his first 14 league appearances.

However, the striker claims he doesn't care who provides the goals as long as the team continue to climb the league table - where they currently sit fifth.

"It doesn’t matter who scores, I just want to be part of a successful team that’s going one place," he added.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says it "is a bit" of a danger that they rely too heavily on Mohamed Salah.

The forward has made 20 appearances so far this season, scoring 13 goals and assisting 11.

"I am not worried his numbers will drop off but more about an injury," said Slot.

"Federico Chiesa has had a difficult start because of injuries, so we don't really have a replacement for Mo.

"But Harvey Elliott is getting fitter and fitter and has played this position before. The best thing that can happen to us is Mo stays fit and keeps producing these numbers."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says it helps that his side can draw on their previous experiences of title races and cup competitions to maintain their current form.

Despite the Reds sitting nine points clear of Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League, Slot says his squad have their "feet on the ground" in terms of not getting ahead of themselves.

"It is important," said Slot on their positioning in the league and Europe. "But it is also the culture of this club.

"For us, it’s not a dead-special thing to be top of the league and Champions League. This team and players are used to competing for every trophy. It helps that they have experienced this.

"It also helps that they have competed and then come up short. They know it’s a long season and to win the league against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City - because they are who I see as a our main competitors - means they will have to be on top of their game for nine or 10 months.

"If you are down for just one second then those clubs show up."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Newcastle United (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to play a full match against Newcastle or Everton as Slot continues to manage his minutes following his injury.

• Goalkeeper Alisson is "getting closer and closer" to a return and is expected to "be back in goal" by the end of the month, while forward Federico Chiesa has returned to training with the squad.

• He added that Caoimhin Kelleher "is doing too well to put Alisson in goal" as he works towards "complete" fitness.

• On being nine points clear at the top of the league: "We don't get too carried away. We have a difficult week coming up again. It's even harder to go away to Newcastle and we're not even halfway through the season yet. But it is a good position to be in."

• He said "it is a bit of a worry" having three defenders sidelined through injury when they play nine times in a month, but they "will make creative decisions" to balance the team in that period and to keep players fit.

• On having the best defence in terms of goals conceded: "It doesn't mean we only have the best defence, it means we have 11 players who work really hard to not concede goals. Every time they have to defend they are there."

• He said being top of the league and Champions League table "is important for the culture of the club" but it is a situation many of his players are used to. Slot added: "Every team we've faced, we've had to work really hard to get a result. That keeps them with both feet on the ground."

• In response to whether they are concerned that they are over-reliant on Mohamed Salah: "A bit, but only for the fact that he is also a human being and he can also get an injury like he did last season. We don't really have a replacement for Mo. I am not afraid that his numbers will drop but the best thing for us is to keep him fit."

• On opponents Newcastle: "They are a team that have won at home to Chelsea and Arsenal and drawn against Manchester City. The players don't need me to tell them how difficult the game will be."

• On the possibility of strengthening the squad in January's transfer window: "I am so, so happy with the squad. That is not to say that if there is a chance then the club won't go for it because they have always shown they will."

Listen to full commentary of Newcastle v Liverpool live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Mohamed Salah would accept a new one-year contract at Liverpool but the forward is increasingly exasperated by the club's handling of negotiations. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Paris St-Germain have not held talks with Salah despite being linked with the 32-year-old. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Liverpool have been drawn to play Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round at Anfield.

The tie will take place between 9-13 January.

See the full draw here