Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak misses out on facing Liverpool in the Premier League today because of a minor groin injury. The Swede is not even named on the bench for the Magpies at Anfield.
Isak has scored 19 goals so far this season with Callum Wilson coming into the Newcastle forward line. Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon also start, with a possible midfield trio of Joe Willock, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
Sven Botman, the Newcastle center-back, misses out despite nearing a return. Tonali has been out lately but has made a comeback into the starting XI here.
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"We need to play close to a perfect game," Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said during his pre-match press conference. "I think learning from the recent game against Manchester City would be a useful starting point for us, where we didn't execute the aggressive game plan that we wanted. We didn't attack enough.
"Anfield is a really great environment to play football, but not a great environment if you are not totally there. We need to make sure we turn up. We are going to need to start the game well — we have to be aggressive, have a threat in the game. We need every bit of our game to be functioning."
Young midfielder Lewis Miley is on the bench for Newcastle. "Lewis can be anything in the respect that he could really take his position, solidify that position and be there for a number of years," Howe added.
"Obviously, you have to have that little bit of luck, staying injury-free. He has all the technical capabilities and mental capabilities. He can do a bit of everything - he has the running capacity, he is very composed in training, he is one of the best technical players that we have. I see a bright future for him."
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jota, Diaz. Subs: Kelleher, Robertson, Quansah, Endo, Elliott, Nunez, Chiesa, Gakpo.
Newcastle starting XI: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Willock, Bruno G, Tonali; Murphy, Wilson, Gordon. Subs: Dubravka, Ruddy, Trippier, Barnes, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Longstaff, Miley.
