Newcastle United v Liverpool
Kick-off time & date: Sunday October 1, 1630 BST
Venue: St James' Park
TV Channel: Sky Sports Premier League
Sky Bet odds: Newcastle 18/5, Draw 29/10, Liverpool 7/10
Team news
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is set to start at Newcastle on Sunday after returning from a domestic suspension.
Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum could face his former club at the expense of Emre Can after an indifferent performance in the Champions League in midweek.
Midfielder Adam Lallana (thigh) is running outside again but is still several weeks from a comeback while right-back Nathaniel Clyne is also recovering well from a back injury.
Liverpool (from): Mignolet, Gomez, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Robertson, Milner, Grujic, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge, Solanke.
Opta Statistics
Newcastle United have won four of their last six home Premier League matches against Liverpool (D1 L1), winning each of their last two without conceding a goal.
This fixture has never seen a goalless draw 44 previous Premier League meetings – the only fixture in Premier League history that has seen more matches without any of them ending 0-0 is Newcastle vs Tottenham (45).
Of the 41 fixtures between two sides to have been played 40 or more times in the Premier League era, Newcastle against Liverpool has seen the most goals per game on average: 138 goals in 44 games with 3.14 on average.
Newcastle are one of three Premier League clubs that Jurgen Klopp has faced and is yet to register a victory against (P2 W0 D1 L1), along with Manchester United and Southampton.
Rafael Benitez has faced former club Liverpool twice in the Premier League – drawing both matches 2-2, with Chelsea in April 2013 and Newcastle in April 2016.
Rafa Benitez won 134 points in his opening 74 Premier League games as Liverpool manager – in comparison, Jurgen Klopp has won one point more in his first 74 league games as Reds’ boss (135).
Daniel Sturridge has scored in all four of his Premier League starts at St. James’ Park in the Premier League, scoring five goals in those games, including three in his last two for Liverpool.
Sturridge could become only the fourth player in Premier League history to score in five consecutive away starts at a Premier League ground, after Alan Shearer at Ellland Road against Leeds, Dion Dublin at White Hart Lane against Spurs and Ruud van Nistelrooy at St. James’ Park against Newcastle.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 23 Premier League matches in the month of October (W13 D10) since a 2-0 defeat to Everton in October 2010.
Mohamed Salah has scored in four of his six Premier League appearances for Liverpool so far (four goals). No player has ever scored in five of their first seven Premier League games for the club.