Saturday’s early kick-off is a clash of the top two form teams in the Premier League as Liverpool visit Newcastle United.
Newcastle are second in the form table since the turn of the year, owing largely to new manager Eddie Howe’s sensational turnaround of the club’s fortunes.
Liverpool are top of that same table and remain the only side unbeaten since January 1.
With just five games of the league season left, this match arguably represents the toughest challenge Liverpool are still to face in their pursuit of the title.
Liverpool will be buoyed by the fact they are unbeaten against Newcastle in their last 10 meetings.
Four of those meetings were draws and the same result this weekend would be met with disappointment in the Liverpool fanbase.
The two sides last met at Anfield back in December, in what was a cagey affair.
The Kop eventually witnessed their beloved return to the dressing room as 3-1 victors, but Newcastle had been pressing for an equaliser until Trent Alexander-Arnold settled things with a late thunderbolt.
Klopp’s men come into this match fresh off the back of a dominating performance against Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
With the matches coming thick and fast for the Reds in this decisive period of the season, they’ll be hoping their hard work in the 2-0 victory helps to build momentum rather than cause a burnout.
Jurgen Klopp currently has a full squad available to him should he see any need to rotate.
Conversely, Newcastle remain without striker Callum Wilson and January signing Kieran Trippier, although these absences have not affected their form of late.
Liverpool will – at least temporarily – leapfrog league leaders Manchester City should they beat Newcastle in Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off.
City will travel to Leeds United in the later 5.30pm kick-off.
If Liverpool successfully defeat the Magpies, nothing less than a win for City will be good enough to see them displace Liverpool as outright Premier League leaders.
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