Newcastle United face nightmare Liverpool scenario as Eddie Howe dealt Arsenal blow

Eddie Howe could – potentially – be without three players when Newcastle United take on Liverpool next month. The Magpies will lock horns with the Merseyside outfit at St James' Park on December 4 as either side looks to climb the Premier League table in pursuit of a place in the top four.

In the meantime, Newcastle must face on Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Crystal Palace. By the time the Magpies host Liverpool in Tyneside, Howe will have hoped to have clambered into a European qualification spot.

With only a handful of points separating them from the likes of Aston Villa, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, the heavyweight bout could later prove to be season-defining. But if Joelinton, Dan Burn or Fabian Schär are shown a yellow card against Crystal Palace then they'll be suspended and miss the Reds clash.

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The latter of which was given his fourth caution against Arsenal – a potentially devastating mistake. Due to Premier League rules, players who receive a total of five yellow cards in their first 19 games will be given a one-match ban.

As it stands, there are 16 players on four cautions. If a player is booked 10 times across the first 32 Premier League matches of the season, they will be banned for two games. With domestic competitions to follow, it must be pointed out that yellow cards are not carried over to the Carabao Cup or FA Cup.

Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana, who were both given their fifth cautions of the season against Nottingham Forest, missed Chelsea's tie against Liverpool at Anfield last month. The duo are the only players in the Premier League, so far this term, to have served a one-match ban for accumulating five cautions.

Nevertheless, in an interview with TNT Sports, Howe has targeted a return to the European stage. The Newcastle boss said: "I think it’s always difficult to judge these things, but it was way ahead of schedule.

"I think if you asked at the start of the season, no one would have really given us a chance to finish in the top four. But I think the signings we made in the summer were pivotal. Confidence grew, and we were able to do it and deservedly so."

Then, when asked if European football should be the 'minimum' requirement for the Magpies, Howe replied: "Yeah, I think so. I think the way that we missed out on Europe was especially frustrating. It wasn’t necessarily in our hands how we missed out.

"When I came here, I knew the responsibility of Newcastle United manager. It’s never been lost on me for a minute how important this role is for the city, and everyone connected with the club. I really enjoy it and wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m desperate for success."