Two changes, Hayden starts: Predicted Newcastle lineup to face Liverpool

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Newcastle face the unenviable task of facing Liverpool on Thursday night.

The horrendous run of fixtures continues at Anfield, as the Magpies chase their first league win there since 1994.

That will be incredibly difficult, but stranger things have happened… But who will Eddie Howe pick to start against Liverpool after Sunday’s 4-0 humiliation at Leicester?

Injury gives Ciaran Clark a return

It feels inevitable that Newcastle will go with a back five at Anfield. Surely we’d be mad not to.

While Jamaal Lascelles was poor on Sunday, he will retain his place in the heart of the defence. So will Fabian Schar, who wasn’t much better at the King Power.

And with Federico Fernandez out injured, Howe’s next best centre-back option is Ciaran Clark. The 32-year-old hasn’t featured since his ridiculous red card against Norwich.

A chance for Isaac Hayden

Joe Willock is another player struggling right now for Newcastle. He’s started every game under Howe so far, but that should change against Liverpool.

We need more energy in midfield – a defensive presence who can frustrate the opposition and offer some protection to the backline.

Isaac Hayden is the man for the job. The 26-year-old hasn’t started since Howe was appointed, and this will hopefully be his chance to prove his worth to the new boss.

How will Newcastle attack?

It’s difficult to see Newcastle getting too many chances against Liverpool. The question is, how do the Magpies go about trying to hurt Jurgen Klopp’s side?

We did ponder whether Allan Saint-Maximin should be rested, but that feels unlikely. The same goes for Callum Wilson, who is our one true goal threat.

Joelinton has to start too, and his role could be the most interesting. We have him starting on the right of a midfield four, with Saint-Maximin on the left.

However, Howe might be tempted to play Wilson and Saint-Maximin as a front two, and deploy Joelinton more centrally like he did against Norwich.

That worked for large parts of the game, with the Brazilian morphing into Mo Diame. We’ll need that again at Anfield, in a game where we likely won’t see much of the ball.

Predicted XI vs Liverpool: Dubravka; Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis; Joelinton, Shelvey, Hayden, Saint-Maximin; Wilson