No less than nine Premier League managers will take charge of their new clubs for the first time on opening weekend, and two of them go head-to-head at St James’ Park on Sunday.
German Matthias Jaissle left Saudi side Al-Ahli to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle, while Liverpool appointed former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola following the sacking of Arne Slot.
That adds another edge to a fixture that always seems to throw up drama, the latest example coming last year when Rio Ngumoha came off the bench to bag the winner in the 10th minute of injury time and become Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer (16 years, 361 days).
Newcastle v Liverpool kick-off time
Newcastle v Liverpool kicks off at 4.30pm BST on Sunday, August 23 at St James’ Park.
Newcastle v Liverpool how to watch
The game will be shown live in the UK via Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting from 4pm.
Newcastle team news
Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon have all been sold so Jaissle has immediate holes to fill.
He will also be without Joelinton after the midfielder picked up a groin injury, while Tino Livramento is yet to recover from the calf injury that forced him to withdraw from the England World Cup squad.
New signings Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba will be pushing to make their debuts, as will Amar Dedic.
Lukas Hornicek, another summer purchase, is likely to start ahead of Nick Pope in goal.
Liverpool team news
Iraola also has to cope without key men with Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni all long-term absentees.
Jeremy Jacquet impressed in the pre-season win over Como last weekend and will be battling with loan signing Ronald Araujo to start alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defence.
Curtis Jones is on his way to Inter so Trey Nyoni, another who impressed in pre-season, is likely to play a bigger part this term although the bench looks most likely here.
Ngumoha looks set to fill the role vacated by the departed Mo Salah on the right of Liverpool’s attack.
Newcastle v Liverpool odds
Liverpool are a shade of odds-on at 10/11 to grab all three points. Newcastle are 13/5 while The Draw is 3/1.
Liverpool are 11/2 third favourites to win the title.
Newcastle v Liverpool prediction
There will certainly be plenty of emotion at St James’ Park as supporters celebrate the life of Kevin Keegan who was a club legend for both teams. Keegan passed away last month at the age of 75.
But hostile, negative energy is guaranteed too with Alexander Isak returning to the north-east for the first time since he forced a move away from Newcastle last summer. The Toon Army will absolutely let him have it.
Liverpool have an astonishing record in this head-to-head, having won 14 of the last 19 meetings and drawn the other five.
While both managers are new, Iraola knows the Premier League and is unbeaten against Newcastle after three wins and three draws.
Goals normally flow freely in this fixture, so take Liverpool to win and both teams to score at 21/10.
Isak has looked sharp in pre-season and many will think it’s written in the stars that he puts one over his old club. The Swedish striker is 11/8 to score anytime if you like that thinking.
Better value lies with Dominik Szoboszlai, who will be on set-pieces for Liverpool and strikes a ball as good as anybody. He’s 7/2 to score anytime.
