Newcastle predicted team vs Liverpool as Eddie Howe faces Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon calls

Liverpool hosts Newcastle in the Premier League today, with Eddie Howe needing to make decisions on the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon ahead of the game

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Newcastle United will kick off against Liverpool just three points behind in the Premier League standings, making it a crucial clash in the race for the Champions League places.

And ahead of the game, Eddie Howe is sweating on the fitness of his captain, Bruno Guimaraes, who sat out the midweek fixture away at PSG, where he was left on the bench. The Brazilian will have a late fitness test.

The Magpies lined up in a back three in Paris but could return to their usual formation at Anfield. Nick Pope will be in goal, with a potential back four of Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and the in-form Lewis Hall.

If Guimaraes misses out, that could mean Jacob Ramsey and Lewis Miley keeping their places alongside Sandro Tonali. Joelinton, who has caused Liverpool problems in the past, is injured.

Wingers Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes were both left out of the starting XI in Paris and could come back in here. Nick Woltemade will hope to keep his spot ahead of Yoane Wissa.

Predicted Newcastle United starting XI: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Ramsey, Tonali, Miley; Gordon, Woltemade, Barnes.

Ahead of the game, Howe was also asked about Alexander Isak. The Swede is yet to face his old side since joining Liverpool, with his record-breaking transfer move coming after the reverse fixture. Isak is currently sidelined with a broken leg.

(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)

"It's an ever-challenging thing," the Newcastle boss said. "You lose a player like Alex...and let's put this right, Liverpool paid the money they did because he's an outstanding footballer, an unbelievable talent.

"We were privileged to have him for the years that we had him. We loved working with him.

"He was an outstanding player. When you take that player away from your team, it's going to change the dynamics, that's for sure. Then you have to try to find a way of, not replacing him, but finding a player or players who can still make the team really effective.

"We're still in that moment and we've been trying to do that all season. I think the guys who have come in have done a very good job.

"But we're still finding ways to get the best out of the new players that we've signed without training, with very minimal time to do any work with them.

"There's been video analysis, talking to them, which is great, but it's not the same as getting the work on the training pitch. They've done really well and they're trying to give the team the best that they have and we are trying to adapt."