MatchThe opposition lowdown: Newcastle United

Recent form

Eddie Howe's side have started the new Premier League campaign with a win and a defeat.

The Magpies began by delivering an emphatic 5-1 victory over Aston Villa on home soil, before falling to a 1-0 loss at Manchester City last time out.

View from Newcastle

Jordan Cronin, Newcastle United writer at Newcastle World

On Newcastle so far this season...

"It's early days, of course, but the signs are promising after facing two really tough opponents. With Aston Villa tipped to be on par, or even outperform Newcastle this season, not many people were sure how the opening day would go but Eddie Howe's team laid down a marker with a 5-1 win.

"For an hour, it was largely an even game, but United have pace and power in attack, both in the starting XI and on the substitutes' bench, and that showed in the closing stages, as did their high-level fitness. With all that in mind, there was some disappointment, not just from supporters but Howe as well, that they couldn't threaten Manchester City's defence more as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat last time out."

On Newcastle's summer signings...

"Newcastle have spent big acquiring Sandro Tonali (AC Milan), Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) and Tino Livramento (Southampton), while Lewis Hall has joined on loan from Chelsea, which will become permanent next summer.

"Both Livramento and Hall will need to wait for their opportunity but certainly Tonali and Barnes have made an instant impression - both scoring in the opener versus Aston Villa. Barnes, so far, has been used as an impact sub but Tonali has started both games. Against Aston Villa, the Italian was simply unplayable and looked to be a bargain, even at a hefty fee."

On Newcastle's expected formation...

"Howe is expected to stick with his usual 4-3-3 formation. A lot will be demanded of Kieran Trippier at right-back, where he'll be tasked with keeping Luis Diaz quiet and supporting Miguel Almiron in attack. Vice versa, Almiron will be asked to track back, as will Anthony Gordon on the opposite wing. The midfield three of Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton - if fit - will need to be at their influential best, while Alexander Isak will look to stretch the Reds by dropping deep and making runs in behind.

Predicted XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

Previous meeting

The Reds last visited Newcastle in February in Premier League action.

Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory on Tyneside, making it a league double over the Magpies in the 2022-23 campaign.

Goals from Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo secured the spoils for Jürgen Klopp's charges.

Both strikes came in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, with Liverpool extending their unbeaten run to 13 Premier League matches against Newcastle with the result.

What they said

Eddie Howe, Newcastle manager

"There's slight tweaks [to Liverpool's set-up] I'd say - I don't think the main principles have changed. They're still very, very good at what they have been historically good at for the last four or five years. [They're a] very difficult team to play against, but they are building a new team, you would say, with slightly different characteristics in midfield.

"They're an elite team with an elite manager, they're very, very good and they're going to come back strong, for sure. We know this is a really good early test for us, following on from Manchester City and Aston Villa."