Say goodbye to the form book now folks. We don't need it anymore. This is the Premier League man. Anything could happen. We can't possibly make a judgement until we at least see the teams, right? Right. While I rustle up the first XIs, feel free to listen to what the fellas down at
Sports Mole HQ had to say on this one. Go on.
NEWCASTLE XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Wijnldum; De Jong, Cisse
LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Milner, Ibe, Firmino, Benteke
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Darlow; Sterry, Mbabu, Thauvin, Perez, Mitrovic, Gouffran
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Bogdan, Toure, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Origi, Randall
Starting with the Magpies and it'll surprise few to learn that McClaren has made changes - but only one! Number 10 Ayoze Perez drops out for Siem de Jong as Papiss Cisse continues to spearhead the attack from the 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. No changes in defence oddly enough. Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini and Paul Dummett continue to make up the defence. Hmm.
On to our Merseyside friends now and Klopp names two changes from the 1-0 win over Swansea City in their last Premier League outing. Both changes come in midfield as Emre Can and Adam Lallana drop out for Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva, who was suspended last week. Christian Benteke spearheads the attack, with Jordon Ibe and James Milner - whose penalty sunk the Swans - providing wide support. Roberto Firmino is at number 10.
Daniel Sturridge, who scored twice against the Saints in midweek, is back on the bench, as is captain Jordan Henderson. They're both only back from injury so, you know, over-loading them too early isn't smart. Klopp isn't Arsene Wenger, is he? Divock Origi, who scored a hat-trick at St Mary's, is also on the bench.
STATS! Shall we? Why not. Did you know Liverpool have only won ONE of their last six trips to St James's Park? Yep, a 6-0 annhilation in 2013. Will we see the same again? Who knows. This is the Premier League. Incidentally, Newcastle won this fixture 1-0 last season, with Perez netting the winner that day.
Interestingly, did you also know that the last 0-0 draw in this meeting came way, way back in 1974? Klopp was seven years old. Given the way in which Liverpool are attacking, coupled with the way Newcastle have been defending as of late, can we assume that this won't be a bore draw? Nope. This is the Premier League. Anything. From Mike Ashley headbutting McClaren, to James Milner ripping his face off to reveal a reptilian-like creature, anything could happen.
Long before Michael Owen was buying race horses and making stupid statements on live television, he was actually quite a good footballer. Don't believe me? Here's a goal he scored at St James's Park in 1998.
Long before Faustino Asprilla was
releasing his own condoms, he was also quite a good footballer for Newcastle, and the Magpies legend is still rooting for his for his former side.
This looks like a thinly-veiled appeal from Newcastle for any local sniper rifle experts to take out McClaren if it looks like they'll be on another hiding to nothing. Or it could just be an innocent weather warning. Who knows.
Ah, the 1990s. East 17. Windbreakers. Rip-off Adidas tracksuit bottoms. Classic Premier League games. This wasn't at St James's Park, but it did involve Liverpool and Newcastle United so have a watch.
PREDICTION! Fifteen minutes from kickoff, my friends. Where's that form book? We'll need it in order to get a prediction horribly wrong. On current form, Liverpool might just be the best team in England and Newcastle look powerless from being another victim of a mauling by the Reds. Both sides boast such contrasting mentalities and morale at the minute, and it is ever so hard to see anything but a comfortable away win. Let's go 3-1 Liverpool.
As sad as it is, Adam could be right if we're honest.
Full marks for brazeness, Davy.
Hold the phone we've got another supporter of the underdog here in the form of Chris Lee, who reckons Newcastle will win this. He must think it'll turn into a 'last goal wins' format.
Watch out for Daniel Sturridge at 0:14 in a new anti-injury measure to keep him fit.
Five minutes to go! Will it be ugly after all? Probably not because football doesn't always go the way you're convinced that it will. But let's see. Stay tuned.
KICKOFF: And we're off and Liverpool have a corner already. They couldn't, could they?
Liverpool have three successive corners but all of them come to nothing. St James's Park held its collective breath there for a moment, while McClaren might need a change of underpants already.
It's all Liverpool and Benteke tries to race on to Lucas's through ball now, but Rob Elliot is quick off his line to thwart the danger. Newcastle, when they've had the ball, have done some decent things too.
Daryl Janmaat is allowed to venture forward, cutting in-field, but his lofted cross for Cisse is comfortably gathered by Mignolet. So far so good for Newcastle; only 83 minutes to go.
Moreno latches on to Skrtel's wonderful long ball, but his first-time cross into the box is met by nobody. Moussa Sissoko, on United's right wing, certainly can't afford to shirk any defensive duties this evening. The jet-heeled Spaniard will get forward at every available opportunity.
It's almost a home game for Liverpool this. They're totally in control of the possession, while their fans are the only ones singing at the moment. There's not a peep out of the home fans. Nerves perhaps?
We've reached the 15-minute mark and McClaren will be delighted so far. His side haven't put a foot wrong, but there's a lack of cutting edge in the final third at the moment. Defensively, though, they're sound - for now at least.
Excellent running from Jordon Ibe here as he shows Dummett a clean pair of heels, and he has the right idea with his delivery, but his cut backis behind every Red shirt and the momentum is gone.
Hmm. What's Andre Marriner smoking here? Wijnaldum bursts through Liverpool's midfield with an acre of space ahead of him, before being tripped by Lucas I think. Not only was it a foul, it was a yellow card as well for me.
CHANCE! First real chance of the game, and what a chance it is. It's Liverpool as Lovren's tame header from Milner's corner is on target, but Benteke looks certain to prod home from point-blank range and the Belgian fires well over the bar. Should be 1-0. Simple as.
De Jong has been terrible in this first 25 minutes or so. He's running at Liverpool's defence now, just on the edge of the box, but he's nervous and his through ball for Cisse is just horrendous.
Ibe's been excellent so far, but this delivery is terrible as his left-footed cross from a good position sails over the head of everyone.
De Jong has got this over-the-head volley completely wrong, which makes you appreciate how good Van Persie was back in the day to score so many of them. De Jong has got into some decent positions, but his finishing has been a bit wayward.
Slowly but surely, Newcastle fans are getting a lot more involved. They like what they've seen from their side in this first half-an-hour or so and they're starting to support the players.
BOOKING: Jack Colback is the recipient of the game's first yellow card for a foul on Firmino. No complaints. Ten minutes from the break.
If Newcastle can reach half time without conceding it'll be huge for their confidence, and so far so good it has to be said. They've been duly untested at the back, aside from one Benteke chance. They need to play it by ear.
CHANCE! It's taken the guts of 40 minutes but Newcastle have finally fashioned something. De Jong plays Cisse into an acre of space and Skrtel is all that separates him from a one-on-one, and he chose the wrong option by trying to cut inside and Skrtel just eats him up then. Very promising, though.
BOOKING: Lucas goes into the book for pulling back De Jong and Newcastle have a decent free kick in a promising area. Could they nick a half-time lead?
SHOT! This is Newcastle's first shot, but it's a poor one as Wijnaldum's free kick sails well over the bar.
HALF TIME: Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
So far so good for Newcastle, right? Absolutely. They've been relatively untested in a 45 minutes in which we feared the worst for them, but they've not put a foot wrong. Okay so they're not exactly doing everything they can to win the game, but it's been a solid defensive display and that'll do them the world of good, having shipped eight in their last two. But there's 45 minutes to go and Liverpool haven't really going yet - and they've got Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi - who scored five between them in midweek - in reserve.
KICKOFF: Right, we're back underway in the North East. Liverpool need something different because this is too easy for Newcastle, something we didn't think we'd be saying at the top of the program, but no changes. Bear in mind they've got Sturridge, Henderson and Origi on the bench.
Colback's been brilliant this evening and he's just been caught by Firmino. Decent start to the half by Newcastle, but you worry for them if they fall a goal behind. They don't look like they've got the firepower to score here.
SHOT! Really promising from Newcastle as Wijnaldum turns Sissoko's cut back wide - well wide, actually, but very encouraging nonetheless. They've gone from strength to strength in this one.
The home fans are certainly up for this now, which is great to see. They were silent early on, but they're getting involved and they've got plenty of reason to. It's been an excellent start to this half by the Magpies and, who knows, they might even win this.
Ugh, Alberto Moreno executes a foul throw. Why would anybody do this? Such a silly and needless offence. Liverpool haven't started this half.
Excellent defending from Daryl Janmaat as he slides in to cut out Ibe's ball for Milner. He had to - Milner was through on goal, albeit at a tricky angle.
BOOKING: Vurnon Anita goes into the book for a challenge on Allen.
BOOKING: Welcome to St James's, Adam Lallana. The playmaker who, along with Sturridge was introduced a moment ago, is taken out by Cisse who gets a yellow card for his troubles.
Sturridge is already going to prove a bit more of a handful than Benteke, who was stationary for the guts of an hour, but Sturridge is much more mobile. He's not as easy to mark.
Looks like De Jong is about to replaced by Perez, which makes sense because he's been atrocious.
SUB: Yep, here's Perez and that's much trickier for the Liverpool defenders, who haven't had much to do it must be said.
GOAL! Newcastle United 1-0 Liverpool (Georginio Wijnaldum)
Oh my word. Where has this come from? Wijnaldum wanders into an acre of space between Liverpool's defence and midfield, before knocking it past Lovren and going for goal from the tightest of angles and Skrtel's knee deflects it past Mignolet and St James's Park erupts.
SUB: Desperate times call for desperate measures and here's Origi, who replaces Ibe with 16 minutes to go. This would be truly massive for Newcastle.
CHANCE! Big, big chance for Liverpool as Lallana splits Newcastle's defence with a fine through ball, but Sturridge, on his weaker right foot, pulls it horribly wide.
Lallana has certainly added something to Liverpool's attack. Why he didn't start I don't know, but he's certainly had a positive impact. Yoan Gouffran replaces Jack Colback now.
OFFSIDE GOAL! Fine finish from Moreno, who reaches Milner's excellent cross with a first-time lob to beat Elliot, but it's wrongly called offside. Big let-off for the hosts.
Right, eight minutes to go. Liverpool still toiling. It's a big, big eight minutes in Newcastle's season.
WIDE! Brilliant leap from Lovren to reach Milner's corner, but his header bounces just wide. I have to say, Newcastle have been superb overall. Liverpool have netted FOURTEEN in their last four away games. It takes something special to keep them out.
Two minutes to go. Can they hang on? As it stands, Liverpool not doing much, but when they've got the likes of Sturridge and Lallana on the pitch, we can't rule them out.
CHANCE! Lovren has his head in his hands now after glancing Moreno's cross straight into the arms of Elliot. Was that the chance?
FIVE MINUTES ADDED ON: Martin Skrtel, who's playing as a striker now, is gone down injured, so expect more than that.
Ah, there he is. I was wondering when we'd see a topless Newcastle fan. It's a man unfortunately. On the pitch, there's not a lot happening.
GOAL! Newcastle United 2-0 Liverpool (Wijnaldum)
Stick a fork in it. Well done Newcastle. Sissoko shrugs off a challenge from Moreno and plays a perfectly weighted ball for Wijnaldum, who dinks it over the body of Mignolet and that's that.
FULL TIME: Newcastle 2-0 Liverpool
Amazing. Just amazing. Did you see that coming? I didn't. Martin Skrtel's own goal on 72 minutes and
Georginio Wijnaldum's last-gasp second gives the Magpies a 2-0 win over in-form Liverpool, who had scored FOURTEEN in their last four away games in all competitions. Absolute scenes at St James's Park. Anywho, that's that. Cheers for joining us and we'll see you next time.
