Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at St James' Park

Bottom club Newcastle face second-bottom Norwich at home tonight before hosting third-bottom Burnley on Saturday.

If both games are six-pointers, does that make this week a 12-pointer for Newcastle?

Read more about that particular story here.

Gary Gowers
My Football Writer

We're not everyone’s cup of tea – that’s for sure.

So many reasons… Delia, self-sufficiency, being from the "middle of nowhere", being uncompetitive (apparently), for deliberately trousering Premier League cash and scuttling off back to the Championship, for being unfashionable, for that "ghastly yellow and green" etc.

You get the idea.

Daniel Farke’s Premier League credentials were questioned. The timing of his sacking was criticised. When we appointed Dean Smith we apparently missed a trick by dismissing the charms of Frank Lampard.

And so it goes on.

However, Tuesday's opponents, Newcastle United - the self-proclaimed 'richest club in the world' - tick all the boxes. The ambition. The billionaire owners. The fans. The lovely Eddie Howe.

That we head to St James’ Park with the Toon still winless makes the game loaded with 'along come Norwich' potential (City fans will know what I mean). But under Dean Smith, we go there without fear, believing we belong in the Premier League and with a chance of winning the match.

If others refuse to acknowledge it, so be it. We’ll continue to do it our way.

Norman Riley
True Faith Podcast

Despite the Arsenal defeat, one thing that was noticeable among fans was the feeling of optimism. Despite no wins in 13 games and being rooted to the bottom of the table, the consensus is that we can get out of the relegation zone and survive this season. Howe and the takeover have given us hope.

However, the next two games are the absolute epitome of relegation six-pointers - and both Norwich and Burnley must be beaten.

One thing is for certain, whoever plays must give every ounce of effort as defeat by Dean Smith’s improving Canaries might make even the most optimistic among us struggle to see how relegation can be avoided.

England are playing Latvia in a Women's World Cup qualifier at 19:00 GMT.

Follow that one here.

Norwich could technically come out of the relegation zone today but it would involve them winning, and then Leeds losing to Palace, and a 12-goal swing.

Adam Pope
BBC West Yorkshire Sport

By Monday morning Marcelo Bielsa was taking solace from the improved second half of Saturday's dismal draw at Brighton, hoping it signified "a point of support to start a recovery".

Recuperation would definitely come in the form of back-to-back home wins against Crystal Palace tonight and Brentford on Sunday.

On the subject of healing, United may be be able to count on the restorative powers of a mended Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford. The defender and striker, both out injured for more than two months, played one half and the complete 90 minutes respectively of the Under-23s' defeat at Manchester City last night. It would not be surprising for Bielsa to include them on the bench this evening.

The first midweek Premier League fixture of the season heralds an intense period of games heading into Christmas. Managers are being asked the inevitable questions about their squads being able to cope with the load.

Palace boss Patrick Vieira appeared prepared to make changes well in advance of the trip to Elland Road: “This is something we have planned since the first game of the season. We always said that everybody would have an important part to play".

As for Bielsa, who always factors on having four players missing per match day, with only centre-back Robin Koch yet to return to any form of competitive action, the options to reignite his misfiring side may be improved. Healthy bodies returning is one thing, the recovery of form is another.

Micah Richards and Alan Shearer compare midfields as they pick line-ups from the best players they played alongside in the latest episode of Match of the Day Top 10.

Listen to the new episode on BBC Sounds now, and watch the best bits on BBC iPlayer on Saturday, 4 December.

BBC Sport

You can follow live commentary of Newcastle v Norwich on BBC Radio 5 Live, plus the BBC Sport website and app.

Listen to live commentary of the first half of Leeds v Crystal Palace via the BBC Sport website or app, with second half coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live.

It's a proper full round of Premier League games this midweek.

And for any fantasy football players who forgot the deadline, oh oh.

Tonight is Newcastle v Norwich (19:30 GMT) and Leeds v Crystal Palace (20:15 GMT).

Eddie Howe makes three changes to the Newcastle team that lost 2-0 at Arsenal on Saturday. Ciaran Clark and Jamal Lewis replace suspended duo Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie, with Javier Manquillo also coming in for Emil Krafth.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Manquillo, Clark, Schar, Lewis, Fraser, Shelvey, Willock, Saint-Maximin, Wilson, Joelinton

Subs: Darlow, Hayden, Hendrick, Krafth, Fernandez, Murphy, Almiron, Gayle, Longstaff

Image source, BBC Sport

Dean Smith makes two changes to the Norwich team that drew 0-0 at home to Wolves.

Lukas Rupp comes in for Mathias Normann, while Christos Tzolis replaces the injured Milot Rashica. Todd Cantwell is also absent with a Covid-related issue.

Norwich XI: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams, Rupp, Sargent, Gilmour, McLean, Tzolis, Pukki

Subs: Gunn, Dowell, Placheta, Kabak, Sorensen, Lees-Melou, Giannoulis, Idah, Omobamidele

Image source, BBC Sport

And look, it's already time for team news.

Image source, PA Media

When Newcastle were taken over last month in a £305m deal, their fans would have started dreaming of trophies and European runs.

But unless they can turn things round, next season will be a 46-game Championship slog.

The crucial games aren't going to be at Wembley, the Nou Camp or Parc des Princes in a few years' time - they're being played this week on Tyneside.

Newcastle, the only team yet to win a league game in the top four divisions, host the other two teams in the relegation zone with them - Norwich today and Burnley on Saturday.