Liverpool team vs Newcastle predicted as Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones decisions made

Liverpool takes on Newcastle United seeking to earn a first win in the Premier League in 2026, with Arne Slot set to make decisions on Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones

Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones.(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool and Newcastle are only three points apart in the Premier League standings, meaning this game is something of a six-pointer in the race to finish inside the top five.

It is likely that there will be five English teams in the Champions League next season — there are six this time around, after Spurs won the Europa League — and therefore that has to be the aim for Liverpool from here. Arne Slot's men have not found things easy this year, but a victory in this fixture would be a huge boost.

Midweek, Liverpool won 6-0 at home to Qarabag while Newcastle drew 1-1 in Paris against PSG. The Reds, having played a much easier game and on home soil, should be better rested.

Alisson Becker will be in goal for Liverpool, with Virgil van Dijk at center-back. Ibrahima Konate is available again following the death of his father and he could come straight back in.

Given Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are both injured, someone will need to step in at right-back. Dominik Szoboszlai seems the most likely option, though Wataru Endo is another.

Szoboszlai is more likely to be able to cope with the pace of Anthony Gordon or Harvey Barnes, even if the Hungarian would then be missed in the center of the pitch.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Milos Kerkez was taken out of the team for the Qarabag but could come back in. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, should move back into midfield, alongside either Alexis Mac Allister or Curtis Jones.

Though Jones has been linked with a move to Inter Milan in the last few hours, it is understood that Liverpool has no intention of selling him before Monday's deadline.

Jones missed the midweek match through illness but returned to training on Friday. If he doesn't start, he can be expected to be involved in the squad and used off the bench.

In attack, Florian Wirtz is likely to be the number, with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah on either side. Hugo Ekitike, who almost signed for Newcastle in the summer, will be the number nine.

"I prefer to win it than losing that game, so that is always helping," Arne Slot said on Friday when asked if the win over Qarabag could help change the momentum in Liverpool's month.

"Every game you win helps — in the first place because we qualified for the last 16 and, second of all, because it was a good win with some good performances, players scoring goals. That's always helpful.

"But we are fully aware of the fact that one win isn't enough at this club. So, the next one is coming fast with Newcastle and I'm 100 per cent sure that that game is a bigger challenge than the one we faced on Wednesday.

"But [it is] always helpful to win. Especially if we've lost in the last minute at Bournemouth, then it's always nice to have a better feeling during the week."