Liverpool team vs Newcastle predicted as Arne Slot makes two changes

Liverpool is targeting a 10th successive league win tonight as Arne Slot's men take on Newcastle at St. James' Park.

The Reds moved nine points clear at the top of the table with Sunday's win over Manchester City, with Arsenal and Chelsea now the two teams closest to Liverpool in the standings.

Both of those teams are in action tonight, as Arsenal hosts Manchester United and Chelsea goes to Southampton, but Slot's eyes will be firmly focussed on the task ahead for his side.

The Dutchman knows a win will ensure Liverpool at the very least preserves its nine-point lead at the summit heading into this weekend's derby at Goodison Park.

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In terms of team news against Newcastle, Slot remains without Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley, Kostas Tsimikas and Alisson, while it is still unclear when Diogo Jota will return from the chest injury he sustained against Chelsea in October.

Federico Chiesa has been taking part in full training in recent days and is available for selection, although it remains to be seen whether he will be named in the squad against Newcastle.

One thing we can be fairly certain about, though, is that he won't be in the starting XI, and this is how we think the Reds will line up...

Slot said that Alisson will return for Liverpool before the end of December, but he is not ready yet, which means Caoimhin Kelleher will continue in goal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is not yet ready to play 90 minutes after his recent hamstring injury but is expected to start, while the rest of the back four picks itself given the injury issues Slot is contesting with in that area of the pitch, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson all set to keep their places.

In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch has featured in every minute of Liverpool's league campaign so far and that is set to continue against Newcastle, while Alexis Mac Allister is also expected to keep his place.

Dominik Szoboszlai delivered an all-action performance against City, but Slot seems to like to rotate him with Curtis Jones, and given the energy the Hungarian expended on Sunday, tonight could be an ideal chance to do exactly that.

Mohamed Salah is a shoo-in, obviously, while Cody Gakpo deserves to keep his place after scoring against Real Madrid and City. Darwin Nunez has happy memories of St. James Park after his late, match-winning brace there last season and could come in for Luis Diaz.

Predicted Liverpool line-up vs Newcastle: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez