Newcastle predicted lineup vs Liverpool

Newcastle face the unenviable task of travelling to Liverpool in the Premier League on Thursday night only days after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Leicester at the weekend.

Eddie Howe steered the Magpies to a first win of the season earlier this month but the fixture list hasn't been kind since then. Liverpool are chasing the title and it might be that reverting to a three centre-back system helps with better defensive resilience.

Here's a look at the starting XI the boss could pick...

Newcastle predicted lineup vs Liverpool - Premier League

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Newcastle need a big day from Jamaal Lascelles / Stu Forster/GettyImages

Martin Dubravka (GK) - Set to start a fifth consecutive Premier League game after recovering from injury and getting his place back.

Fabian Schar (CB) - Has started the last five Premier League games in a row after being out of favour for a couple of months.

Jamaal Lascelles (CB) - It has to be a big performance from the captain if Newcastle are to have a hope of keeping Liverpool at bay.

Ciaran Clark (CB) - Could return for the first time since his red card against Norwich to give an extra body to the back line.

2. Midfielders

Jonjo Shelvey will face his former club / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Javier Manquillo (RWB) - has to be on top of his game against his former club. It's a hard role to play at the best of times.

Jonjo Shelvey (CM) - Another who will be facing his former club. One of the senior heads in this squad and an automatic starter now he is fully fit.

Joe Willock (CM) - Hasn't made the same kind of impact as during his loan spell last season but still a very capable player on his day.

Matt Ritchie (LWB) - Could make his return on the left in place of Jamal Lewis after recently serving a suspension and being dropped to the bench.

3. Forwards

Callum Wilson is Newcastle's best hope for a goal / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Miguel Almiron (RW) - Could be favoured ahead of Joelinton if one of them has to be sacrificed for an extra defender.

Callum Wilson (ST) - Won't get much in the way of chances so will have to be clinical when one does come along.

Allan Saint-Maximin (LW) - If he can catch Liverpool on the break at all, it might provide what will be rare opportunities to create.

You can read 90min's preview of Liverpool vs Newcastle here.

You can read Liverpool's predicted lineup here.

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