Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to BT Sport: "I don't think there is such a thing as weak Liverpool side, we know it will be a difficult game and are ready for the best Liverpool.

"The main thing for us is our performance, we have set very high standards in recent weeks - we don't want to drop below those. the commitment from the team has been there. hopefully we can show what we can do on the ball as well.

"We have really enjoyed it, it is different for us but we have enjoyed the area - it has been long hours, hard work, but we have tried to embrace everything to do with Newcastle and it is a pleasure to play here."

Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport

It is 30 November 2021. Newcastle have just slumped to a 1-1 draw with Norwich at home after Ciaran Clark's red card. They are yet to win a game this season and are bottom of the Premier League, six points from safety.

Seven weeks earlier the new owners came in, promising a future of Champions League football and trophies. But after new boss Eddie Howe's third game in charge, fans are anxious.

Questions linger about the capabilities of the new owners, who initially tried to recruit Unai Emery from Villarreal. Some are pondering whether a reset in the Championship might not be such a bad thing.

A mere 150 days later, that nadir seems like another world.

Last Saturday Newcastle beat Norwich 3-0 in the reverse fixture to sit ninth in the table, 14 points above the relegation zone. With safety secured, fans created a carnival atmosphere at Carrow Road after their Brazilian heroes Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes scored.

Howe's haul of 38 points in 23 games would probably be enough to keep the team in the Premier League on its own. The same points-per-game ratio last season would have taken Newcastle into Europe.

Despite spending £85m in the January transfer window, it has still been a remarkable turnaround and has led to calls from fans for Howe to be considered for manager of the year.

Even Howe says "the run of results has been quicker than expected" but for some who questioned whether the former Bournemouth manager was up to the job, the "football-obsessed" 44-year-old has provided the perfect response.

Read more of Alistair Magowan's piece here.

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There's three changes for Newcastle from the side that beat Norwich 3-0 last-time out.

Fabian Schar, Jonjo Shelvey and Miguel Almirón - on the bench in that game - come into the starting XI.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett, Bruno Guimaraes, Shelvey, Willock, Almiron, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin.

Subs: Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Manquillo, Wood, Murphy, Darlow, Gayle, Longstaff.

Image source, BBC Sport

Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah and Thiago, who had a stellar performance in the Champions League win against Villarreal in midweek, are both named on the bench for Liverpool.

In total the Reds make five changes as James Milner, Naby Keita, Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Joel Matip come in.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Keita, Jota, Mane, Diaz.

Subs: Fabinho, Konate, Thiago, Salah, Jones, Tsimikas, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Elliott.

What does that team news do to your fantasy Premier League teams?! As always, give us a shout at #bbcfootball

The teams are in...

We'll have full news in a moment, but the headline is Mohamed Salah and Thiago start on the bench for the visitors.

Image source, BBC Sport

Meanwhile, things are getting nervy at the bottom.

If Burnley win at Watford and Norwich lose at Aston Villa, boss Dean Smith's old office, the Canaries will be relegated to the Championship.

That would also put Watford on the brink.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport at St James' Park

Image source, BBC Sport

The sun is shining, Shearer's bar is packed and there's smiles on the faces of the home fans as they welcome title-chasing Liverpool into town.

Reds fans arrive in the North East dreaming of what could be this season as they chase a quadruple of major trophies but Newcastle fans are dreaming of what might be next season.

A run of four successive Premier League wins has propelled the once-relegation threatened side into the top 10 and there's a buoyant mood around the ground as they look to upset a side they will hope to be challenging more closely in the coming years.

Plenty of the home fans were wrapped in Brazil flags on the walk up from the station to the ground, highlighting just how much they have taken Bruno Guimarães to their hearts since his arrival at St James' Park.

Image source, BBC Sport

First up, we're at St James' Park, where a resurgent Newcastle host quadruple-chasing Liverpool.

Win today and the Reds will move above Manchester City, who visit Leeds United in today's late game.

• Newcastle v Liverpool (12:30 BST)
• Aston Villa v Norwich
• Southampton v Crystal Palace
• Watford v Burnley
• Wolves v Brighton
• Leeds v Manchester City (17:30 BST)

We go again...

The business end. Crunch time.

Liverpool could be top of top of the league by the time Manchester City kick-off later, while Norwich could have their ticket back to the Championship confirmed by then.

Let's have a look at what's coming up.