New Era at Tyneside: Newcastle vs Liverpool Showdown

St James’ Park gets the late-Sunday spotlight, and it comes with a twist: two new managers, two new blueprints, and a fixture that rarely needs extra fuel.

Kick-off is at 4.30pm BST, but the tone of the afternoon is already set by bold team sheets on both sides.

Liverpool lean into a fresh spine

No shocks in the Liverpool XI, yet it still feels different.

Jeremy Jacquet is thrown straight into the fire alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, a clear vote of confidence in the new partnership at the heart of the defence. Ahead of them, Dominik Szoboszlai takes charge in central midfield, expected to knit together the build-up and the press.

Rio Ngumoha starts off the right, a lively option cutting inside to link with the creators. Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo add craft and movement behind the striker, while Alexander Isak leads the line on his St James’ Park return in Liverpool colours – a narrative all of its own.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Mac Allister, Tsimikas, Munoz, Araujo, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas

Newcastle hand debuts and trust youth

Across the technical area, Newcastle answer with a side that looks adventurous and a little risky.

Amar Dedic makes his debut at right-back, immediately tasked with dealing with Liverpool’s width and pace. Behind him, Lukas Hornicek starts in goal, another new face under pressure in one of the league’s most unforgiving fixtures.

Sean Steur comes into midfield, part of a youthful core that also includes Lewis Miley. Out wide, Anthony Elanga offers direct running, while Harvey Barnes brings guile on the opposite flank.

Yoane Wissa is expected to operate as the No 10, floating between the lines and feeding Will Osula, who leads the line and carries the responsibility of stretching Liverpool’s back four.

Newcastle United XI: Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Steur; Elanga, Wissa, Barnes; Osula

Subs: Jaouen, Schar, Bamba, Toure, Murphy, Woltemade, Willock, Ramsey, Shahar

New managers. New combinations. Old rivalry.

By late afternoon, we’ll know whose new project lands the first real punch.