What will Newcastle's starting line-up be against Liverpool?

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Newcastle United have an excellent defensive record this season but The Magpies, in their surprising hunt for a top four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification, have endured some indifferent form of late as a result of their poor goal scoring record. Ahead of this match at home to mid-table Liverpool, they have drawn four of their last five Premier League matches.
Their solid defensive record has been the fundamental reason as to why Eddie Howe’s side have overperformed their pre-season expectations. They have conceded just 13 goals in 22 matches with the regular back four of Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn ready and available, with no midweek football before an EFL Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley next weekend.
Howe is in charge of a fairly small squad, despite Newcastle’s outrageous and potentially concerning net spend in the last 18 months or so. It doesn’t help, therefore, that Bruno Guimaraes is continuing to serve a suspension, following a straight record in the closing minutes of their EFL Cup semi-final second-leg against Southampton a couple of weeks ago. Matt Targett and Emil Krafth also remain unavailable with injuries to the pair of them with Javi Manquillo also a doubt.
Guimaraes’ lack of availability is complicated further by doubts over Joe Willock’s fitness and the sale of Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest on the January deadline day. If Willock is available then he should make the starting line-up alongside the in-form Sean Longstaff and ever-impressive Joelinton.
In attack, Newcastle added Anthony Gordon from Everton for a fee reportedly around £40 million in January. The versatile forward is yet to make a start in the Premier League for the club, though. Callum Wilson is, as ever, a doubt for the match, which means Gordon could well get the starting berth ahead of Alexander Isak up-front.
Saint-Maximin has returned to the starting eleven after a mid-season dip in form and he should begin on the flank but if Howe is to prefer a less unpredictable performer out-wide then Gordon could also come in in place of the Frenchman. Miguel Almiron, who has been a star performer and is their current top scorer, will keep his place on the right of attack, following scoring the equaliser at struggling AFC Bournemouth last weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; S. Longstaff, Joelinton, Willock; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
UNAVAILABLE: Krafth (Injured), Targett (Injured), Guimaraes (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Manquillo (Injured), Willock (Injured), Wilson (Injured)