Liverpool will look to cement their position at the top of the Premier League when they host an out of form Newcastle United side on New Years Day.
Liverpool moved ahead of Arsenal in the previous round of games, having won comfortably away at Burnley.
Darwin Nunez ended his goal drought with the opener, with Diogo Jota sealing the victory late on.
Newcastle United were surprisingly beaten at home by Nottingham Forest, despite an early Alexandre Isak penalty.
Chris Wood scored a superb hat-trick for Forest, who ended their own poor run with the win.
Premier League form: Liverpool W3 D2 L0; Newcastle United W1 D0 L4
Premier League top scorers
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah 12 goals
Newcastle United – Alexander Isak 8 goals
Match history
Liverpool have a superb record against Newcastle United and are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League meetings.
Nunez scored twice off the bench as Liverpool recovered from a goal and a man down to stun Newcastle earlier in the season.
Last five Premier League meetings
Newcastle United 1 Liverpool 2 – 27/08/23
Newcastle United 0 Liverpool 2 – 18/02/23
Liverpool 2 Newcastle United 1 – 31/08/22
Newcastle United 0 Liverpool 1 – 30/04/22
Liverpool 3 Newcastle United 1 – 16/12/21
Team news
Ibrahim Konate is expected to return to the starting XI, along with Luis Diaz and Dominic Szoboszlai who were rotated against Burnley.
Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas remain out, meaning Joe Gomez will likely continue from left-back.
Newcastle will again be without numerous options, including the likes of Nick Pope, Harvey Barnes and Sandro Tonali.
Callum Wilson could come into the XI, which means Isak is forced out wide or will start from the bench.
Expected starting XI’s
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Endo, Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Livramento; Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Gordon, Wilson, Isak
Predictions
Result: Liverpool
Liverpool have an incredible recent record against Newcastle and it’s hard to see that changing here
Correct Score: 2-1
Three of the last five meetings between the two have seen a Liverpool win by a one goal margin
Anytime Goalscorer: Darwin Nunez
Nunez ended his drought against Burnley in his previous fixture and has three in three games against Newcastle