Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty ImagesWith results elsewhere going their way in the Premier League on Saturday, Liverpool have been presented with a significant opportunity when they travel to St James' Park on Sunday afternoon, but Jurgen Klopp faces up against an old adversary determined to drag his Newcastle United side out of the mire with a victory.
Steve McClaren is reported to be facing a two-game review, with his future in charge on Tyneside looking desperately fraught. Simon Bird of the Mirror suggested the former England manager had been given "no guarantees over his future during high-level talks this week."
Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty ImagesDefeat against Klopp's side on Sunday could tip him over the edge, but McClaren will be hoping to draw from his experience of previous clashes against the German's former side, Borussia Dortmund, when in charge of VfL Wolfsburg to secure a priceless win at home.
This will be no mean feat, however, with Liverpool in strong form heading into Sunday's clash and looking to make it five wins in a row after Wednesday night's 6-1 win away to Southampton in the League Cup.
Will Klopp deliver the killing blow to a fragile McClaren, or will this clash see Newcastle rise from the flames and stabilise their form?
Date: Sunday, 6 December, 2015
Time: 4 p.m. GMT / 11 a.m. ET
Venue: St James' Park, Newcastle, England
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK) / NBCSN (U.S.)
Form Lines
Newcastle United: L-D-W-L-L
Liverpool: W-W-W-W-L
Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesPiling on the misery, McClaren's preparations for Sunday's outing have been hampered by a host of serious injury problems.
Massadio Haidara suffered a knee injury in training. Jamaal Lascelles suffered a hamstring problem last time out away to Crystal Palace, adding to long-term absentees Tim Krul (ACL), Steven Taylor (hamstring), Emmanuel Riviere (knee), Rolando Aarons (ankle) and Gabriel Obertan (hamstring).
Sam Bagnall - AMA/Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Cheick Tiote is unlikely to feature because of groin trouble, and centre-back Mike Williamson—recently recalled from his loan spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers—could also miss out with a hamstring injury.
That leaves McClaren with a threadbare squad and, according to the Guardian's Louise Taylor, considering a major structural change.
"A potential switch to 3-5-2 featuring Jack Colback at left wing-back has been debated and no one is exempt from potentially being dropped," Taylor wrote, implying key players such as Fabricio Coloccini and Moussa Sissoko could be omitted.
Contrasting with McClaren's woes, Klopp has close to a full-strength squad to select from following Wednesday's victory on the south coast.
Mamadou Sakho, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez and Jon Flanagan are the only players certain to miss out, though Klopp is taking a cautious approach with both Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson as the key midfielders continue their recoveries from hamstring and foot injuries respectively.
The 48-year-old explained to reporters on Friday afternoon that Coutinho would need to be treated with care as he works his way back to full fitness, as relayed by This is Anfield:
I like optimism, but with Phil we are too optimistic. There’s nothing to criticise, he tries everything he can.
He trains nearly normally, but we have to take care of this because the muscle is a dangerous thing. When you feel it you stop.
I can wait everyday, it’s no problem. Yesterday nobody gave me this sign [that he is ready] so we have to wait again.
This suggests the Brazilian could be left out once again, while Klopp's assertion that Henderson "needs to be absolutely fit" hints at a place on the bench for his captain.
Elsewhere, Daniel Sturridge will be looking to build on his two-goal display against the Saints and could make his second consecutive start under Klopp.
Emre Can is Klopp's only other absentee, with the German midfielder picking up his fifth yellow card of the season at St Mary's.
Predicted Lineups
Bryn Lennon/Getty ImagesDespite suggestions McClaren could field a 3-5-2 formation against the Reds, a lack of suitable personnel could scupper this for the Yorkshireman.
If Williamson is passed fit, however, he could start in a three-man back line.
Without Williamson, regular goalkeeper Rob Elliot could be left to organise a back four that includes Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Coloccini and Paul Dummett, with Kevin Mbabu a useful option in reserve.
Ahead of this defensive line, Sissoko and Vurnon Anita could form part of a four-man midfield flanked by Georginio Wijnaldum and Florian Thauvin, who in turn will support strike partners Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty ImagesFor Liverpool, Klopp can be expected to ring the changes once more after making six alterations for Wednesday night's victory.
Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner and Roberto Firmino are all likely to be recalled, with the former pair joined by Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno in defence.
Alongside Milner in midfield, Klopp could persevere with Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen with Can unavailable.
Firmino could form a fluid, fast-paced attacking trident with Sturridge and Adam Lallana, though Divock Origi will be hoping for another start after his hat-trick in midweek.
Likely Newcastle XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Thauvin, Sissoko, Anita, Wijnaldum; Mitrovic and Ayoze.
Likely Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Milner, Lucas, Allen; Lallana, Sturridge and Firmino.
Players to Watch
Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesGeorginio Wijnaldum
Wijnaldum has been one of few positives in what has been a dismal season for the Magpies so far, with the £14.5 million summer signing producing a string of performances that wouldn't look out of place if they were for the best clubs in the Premier League.
The Dutchman is Newcastle's leading league goalscorer, with six, though four of these came in October's freak 6-2 win at home to Norwich City—a game in which Wijnaldum proved his all-round quality in attack.
Pacy, skilful, industrious and with an eye for the magnificent, Wijnaldum will no doubt find an admirer in Klopp.
If Newcastle are going to secure a result against Liverpool, they will need the 25-year-old to be at his best.
Michael Steele/Getty ImagesDaniel Sturridge
Two goals at St Mary's on Wednesday night signalled Sturridge's return to the centre stage; after a long battle with injury, the England international looks set to establish himself as a key player under Klopp.
Sturridge gives Liverpool another dimension in attack, able to latch onto the intelligent passes of Firmino and Coutinho and put defences to the sword with world-class finishes.
The former Chelsea and Manchester City man provides Liverpool with a genuine focal point in attack and wholly suits Klopp's philosophy on Merseyside.
Sturridge will be looking to make up for lost time after in what will be only his fifth league appearance of the season. If he maintains his strong form from the win over Southampton, he could prove devastating.
Key Battle
Clive Rose/Getty ImagesLiverpool's Attack vs. Newcastle's Defence
Sturridge is not the only in-form attacker at Klopp's disposal, however, and the German is able to call upon the likes of Firmino, Origi, Jordon Ibe and Christian Benteke as he plots another victory on Sunday.
Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty ImagesLiverpool have scored 14 goals in their last five games, and coming up against a defensive line that has conceded the joint-most goals of any team in the Premier League this season (30), Klopp will be confident this can continue.
The onus, therefore, is on McClaren's back line to improve, and the 54-year-old will be looking for a solid performance from his captain, Coloccini.
Coloccini will be required to marshal his back line with authority, as any mix-ups in defence could prove costly. A positive defensive performance from the Magpies could gift McClaren with a stay of execution.
Newcastle: -160
Liverpool: +485
Draw: +333
Odds via Odds Shark and correct at time of writing.
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