Newcastle on the ball, stroking it around nicely with their fans cheering every pass. Great atmosphere.

A decent handshake between the two managers before kick-off. Referee Martin Atkinson is in charge and Sunderland get us going. Good luck to both teams. 

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Allardyce believes Rafael Benitez will find life at Newcastle very different to Real Madrid.

"I thought it was a big appointment," Allardyce told Radio 5 live Sportsweek.

“If you’re coming from Real Madrid and working with that squad, with all due respect, the players of Newcastle are not as a good as Real Madrid’s players.   

“What will he think of the players? Will they be able to live up to his standard after being at Real Madrid? That’s the challenge for him if he’s going to turn Newcastle around."

Nice, Sam, nice. 

The teams are in the tunnel, so a quick reminder of who's starting. Jonjo Shelvey and Younes Kaboul lead the teams out to an almighty roar at St James' Park.  

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

The players have finished their warm-ups, the tension is building inside St James' Park. Can Jermain Defoe lead Sunderland to a seventh straight win in this fixture? 

Image source, Getty Images

Need any more inspiration than this, Sunderland fans?

Image source, Reuters

Our 10th derby of the day finished 1-0 to Beijing BG earlier today.

Interestingly former West Ham striker Nikica Jelavić plays for Beijing Rehne after signing in January for £2m.

Great sport Rob, anymore for anymore? here's the full list:

Dundee United v Dundee 

Newcastle v Sunderland 

Torino v Juventus 

Manchester City v Manchester United 

Galatasaray v Fenerbahce 

Sparta Prague v Slavia Praha 

Flamengo v Fluminense

Beijing BG v Beijing Rehne 

Millionarios v Santa Fe

Universidad de Chile v Colo Colo

And we have another.

Well done Stephen, the Rio derby is indeed taking place in Brazil today.

Nine derbies in one day around the world - incredible.

As well as this feisty North-East derby, my esteemed colleague Mike Henson will be talking you through Liverpool's visit to Southampton. Plenty to play for there, as well, so if that takes your fancy, join him right now.

Rafael Benitez is confident he can wake the "sleeping giant" that is Newcastle. 

Despite having a clause in his contract to leave the club should they be relegated, the 55-year-old said: "I decided to come because I knew how big this clubs was; the fans, the stadium, everything. You can see that it's a sleeping giant.

"Then you think maybe with your experience and talking with everyone at the club, I can see that if we stay up, we can achieve things because the potential is here."

Image source, PA

Rafael Benitez and Sam Allardyce have done their best to play down their past, and you can understand why. There are bigger issues at stake.

And maybe the new man in town, Benitez, has more to deal with. Because in the recent past it’s Sunderland who have owned this fixture; they’re unbeaten in eight games and have won the last six.

If Benitez can turn that record around, he will become an instant hero.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Allardyce finds a North East derby stressful.

Earlier this morning, he told Radio 5 live Sportsweek: "I’m not that relaxed before any game. I’m pretty good at masking that fact, the players can’t see me jumping about before a game.

"On the inside you feel pressure but as professional the exterior looks pretty calm, I have to pick and choose the right words to give the lads before going out to battle - control their emotions.

"You’ve got to make sure you’re able to control their emotions in such a cauldron of atmosphere and noise.”

Southampton make just one change to the side that beat Stoke City away last weekend with captain Jose Fonte returning from suspension to replace Matt Targett in the back four.

Victor Wanyama, who is also available after serving a ban, is named on the bench.

Liverpool make three changes from the side that advanced in the Europa League in midweek with Brazil playmaker Roberto Firmino dropping out with an injury, along with James Milner and Jordan Henderson.

Joe Allen comes into the midfield, Jon Flanagan plays at left-back to become Liverpool's ninth captain of the season, while Divock Origi is added to the attack.

There are three former Saints in the Reds' line-up in Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren.

In his first game at St James' Park Rafael Benitez makes two changes to the team which lost at Leicester. Chancel Mbemba and Andros Townsend are in for Steven Taylor and Vurnon Anita. 

Image source, Opta

Sunderland make one change to the team which drew with Southampton, and it's a significant one - Jermain Defoe starts up top. He has scored seven goals in his last eight league appearances away from home.

Image source, Opta

We have our eighth derby of the day and it's another big one, great spot Damian.

If you've been reading closely, you might already have a headstart with this. We've put together a quiz to test your knowledge of all things Tyne-Wear derby.

Have a go here and let us know how you got on using #bbcfootball., external

Image source, .

Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator on MOTD2 Extra

"Sunderland bought better in January and have a stronger side. Lamine Koné has become a presence at the back, Jan Kirchhoff did not start well but has settled and Wahbi Khazri is like a pocket Riyad Mahrez. They have made a step in the right direction while Newcastle did not.

"I think Newcastle will go down and Sunderland will stay up."

The teams for the 13:30 GMT kick-offs are in. Newcastle bring in Chancel Mbemba and Andros Townsend, with Jermain Defoe starting for Sunderland.

In the other game, Roberto Firmino misses out for Liverpool and Jon Flanagan is made captain. Jose Fonte is back for Southampton.

Full line-ups to follow. 

MOTD2 Extra

Former Manchester City midfielder Trevor Sinclair on Match of the Day 2 Extra: "I think Sunderland will win. You need cool heads on derby days, you do not want them excited or emotional. The build up is huge, players are well aware of the attention from fans. Keep a cool head, keep nice and calm, whoever executes that the best will come out on top.

"I would prefer to be in the Sunderland camp rather than Newcastle where they have done double training. You want to be as fresh and relaxed to give yourself the best chance to win the game."

Image source, Getty Images

With all the talk of derbies, we've not mentioned much about this game yet, but both sides - tied on 44 points - will have hopes of pushing on towards European qualification.

Liverpool will have their tails up for this one after knocking Manchester United out of the Europa League in midweek, and they won 6-1 at St Mary's earlier this season in the Capital One Cup. 

But as Reds boss Jurgen Klopp says: "The problem with confidence is that it's a little flower and if you step on it it's gone in a second." 

Couldn't have put it better myself. The Saints are much improved since that thrashing in December and have won 20 points in their last 10 games.