Liverpool vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League line-ups as Alexander Isak ruled out of crucial clash at Anfield – UK Times

But Arsenal, who have a game in hand, can cut that advantage before Liverpool take to the field at home to West Ham on Saturday afternoon.

The big news from tonight’s team news is that Alexander Isak misses out for Newcastle tonight through injury.

The club have described the issue as a ‘slight groin problem’ on X, so Eddie Howe will surely be hopeful that his leading goalscorer can make a comeback for their FA Cup clash against Brighton on Sunday.

Nevertheless, a huge blow for the Magpies – who are now without their key source of firepower against the league leaders.

“A couple of significant absentees at Anfield tonight.

“No Arne Slot, who starts a touchline ban, for Liverpool and no Alexander Isak, who has a slight groin problem, for Newcastle.

“So it is a big night for Callum Wilson, who makes a belated first start of an injury-hit season.

“In one respect, it is a bigger night for Newcastle than Liverpool: Eddie Howe’s team are caught up in the traffic of the crowded race for the fourth and fifth Champions League spots.

“Liverpool will have a comfortable lead at the end of the night, whatever happens.”

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Jota, Diaz.

Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Elliot, Robertson, Quansah.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock, Murphy, Wilson, Gordon.

Subs: Dubravka, Ruddy, Trippier, Barnes, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Longstaff, Miley.

Newcastle sit in fifth place ahead of the midweek matches, with Eddie Howe’s side on track for Champions League football thanks to their win over Forest at the weekend.

The Magpies trail fourth-placed Man City on goal difference alone, and though they themselves are only a point ahead of Chelsea and Bournemouth (and one ahead of Aston Villa) they will be confident that they can earn a place in the top five come May.

While there is plenty to come with 12 matches left, the Magpies also have a fairly kind run of fixtures, with four of their remaining games coming against sides in the bottom six.

At the other end of the table, their match against Chelsea on 10 May could be crucial in securing a top four (or five) place.

Although the manager played down the importance of their lead, seven of Liverpool’s remaining games are an home and the away supporters at the Etihad were signing about the title returning to Anfield for just the second time in 35 years after a first Premier League win at Manchester City since 2015.

There is still plenty of time for Arsenal to hunt Liverpool down, but the title race appears to be entering a decisive stretch of fixtures up until the March international break. It’s been an unpredictable year, so expect further twists and turns before May.

The report from the Etihad…

Mind the gap. It looks unbridgeable now: 11 points to Arsenal, a barely credible 20 to Manchester City. A title race that began with City as red-hot favourites could be almost over before February is. The dominant team this season, Liverpool were vastly superior at the Etihad Stadium.

With Arne Slot borrowing from Pep Guardiola’s tactical blueprint to outwit the master with his twin false nines, with the magnificent Mohamed Salah underlining his credentials to win the individual awards, with Dominik Szoboszlai delivering perhaps the finest display of his Liverpool career, with Virgil van Dijk marshalling a defence that had conceded too often in the last two-and-a-half months to deliver a display of defiance, this felt like the victory that ended any doubt. A 20th league title is bound for Anfield.

As with the return fixture, this match should provide plenty of intensity and quality in a close encounter. At this point, all Liverpool have to do is avoid losses, so they may not quite go all-out as there Magpies visit.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Jota.

Newcastle XI: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

For Newcastle, Joelinton and Sven Botman are the only long-term injuries, with nothing new to report after the win over Nottingham Forest.

Sandro Tonali could return to the side in midfield ahead of Lewis Miley, with the rest of the side likely to stay the same as they face the league leaders.