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Liverpool has gone with Curtis Jones at right-back in the absence of the injured Jeremie Frimpong. Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are only fit enough to make the substitutes' bench.
Alisson Becker is in the Liverpool goal, with Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk at center-back. Milos Kerkez, the summer signing from Bournemouth, keeps his place at left-back. That is the same back four, aside from the injured Frimpong, that started against Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the season.
In midfield, Arne Slot has gone with Ryan Gravenberch, who is back from suspension, and Dominik Szoboszlai. Alexis Mac Allister is absent. Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo make up the attacking part of the team.
In reserve, Slot has the likes of Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha to call upon. Harvey Elliott is with the team once again amid the potential for him to make an exit before the window closes in a week.
"I think if you go to Newcastle, you know what to expect," Slot said in his press conference on Thursday. "We played them three times last season, and twice their intensity levels were above ours.
"In the away game, especially in the first 60 minutes, they were so, so, so intense and fully deserved to have the lead. In the League Cup final, they were more intense than us as well.
"So, I don't think they need anything to add for them to be intense if they play at St. James' Park.
"Apart from the intensity, it's a very good team. They have also a team that can make it a fight if you want to call it like this; they have players for this, but they also have players that are so comfortable on the ball.
"So, one of the best teams in the league and one of the most difficult away games you can have in the season, especially as you say here, 'under the lights'."
Newcastle and Liverpool drew 3-3 in the last game they played at St James' Park. The North East side, of course, ended a 70-year wait for silverware by beating the Reds at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final in March.
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