Alan Pardew was a dead man walking two weeks ago, but three consecutive victories have changed the complexion of Newcastle United's early season.

Premier League wins against Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur were followed by a stunning triumph at Manchester City on Wednesday which saw them reach the Capital One Cup quarter-finals.

Pardew is the tune of the Toon Army again, and doubters will have to find a bin, or a temporary storage facility, such is the insecurity of the modern manager, for their banners of protest prior to the visit of Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime.

Such is Newcastle's upturn in fortunes that they can move to within one point of the seventh-placed Reds in the table with victory, despite having failed to win any of the first seven games of their campaign.

St James' Park will be rocking for the latest instalment of an always-entertaining Premier League fixture, but Liverpool will too hope that their midweek result will prove a watershed moment in their season, or at least for Mario Balotelli.

The Italian striker ended a drought of over 11 hours without a goal to inspire a late comeback against Swansea City on Tuesday as Liverpool themselves progressed to the League Cup last eight.

Having been written off, much like Pardew, following a disappointing start to his Reds career, the 24-year-old has finally got the backing of an Anfield legend this week, with Ian Rush tipping him to build on his Swans goal.

Balotelli will be restored to the starting XI for the trip to Tyneside, probably as a lone frontman with Daniel Sturridge still injured. Raheem Sterling should return to support him in one of eight possible changes.

Captain Steven Gerrard and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will both definitely be recalled, as could Adam Lallana, Alberto Moreno and Joe Allen, while Martin Skrtel is in line to reunite with Dejan Lovren in central defence.

Newcastle's performance at the Etihad Stadium has given Pardew some selection dilemmas, but 18-year-old midfielder Rolando Aarons is only likely to be on the bench as he manages a hamstring strain, while two games in four days will prove too much for Ryan Taylor after his return from a two-year layoff.

Recent goals should be enough for Ayoze Perez and Sammy Ameboi to be included in attack, with Papiss Cisse and Siem de Jong injured. Davide Santon also remains out, so Paul Dummett will continue at left-back.

Tim Krul and Steven Taylor will be back in key defensive positions and, while his cameo against Spurs was his brightest moment in a Magpies shirt, Remy Cabella may have to settle for another substitute's role.

There have been 54 goals in the last 16 top-flight meetings between these sides, 11 of which have been won by Liverpool.

Recent form

Newcastle: WWWDLD

Liverpool: WDLWWL

Possible starting lineups

Newcastle: Krul; Janmaat, Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett; Anita, Colback; Gouffran, Sissoko, Ameobi; Perez

Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Gerrard, Henderson, Allen; Lallana, Sterling, Balotelli

Sports Mole says: 1-1