Liverpool visit Newcastle today in a Premier League tie that has doubled in its importance in recent years following the Magpie's rise to success.
Last season Newcastle beat Liverpool to secure the last Champions League spot, but this has been anomaly in the Jurgen Klopp era, as the Anfield faithful have came out on top on the majority of instances.
Even last year when Newcastle finished in a higher position, The Reds beat their opponents home and away, despite struggling throughout the season.
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Both teams have got off to a relatively strong start, although it is widely accepted that Liverpool's squad is too thin, particularly in midfield and defence.
Up front they have an embarrassment of riches to choose from, but the only player who actually plays at centre defensive midfield is Waturo Endo, the Japan captain who Klopp signed following the collapse of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
When Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are fit, the defence is much stronger, but the latter of the two has a poor history with injuries and is a serious doubt for today's match.
Newcastle on the other hand are in unfamiliar territory, having to juggle Champions League commitments into their schedule, while try and repeat last year's heroics.
The Premier League fixture list hasn't been kind to them either as they are now playing Liverpool off the back of a defeat to Manchester City.
However, Eddie Howe won't mind getting these big games out of the way early, finding a settled team, and then building a run of games together.
Ultimately a draw would be a good result for both teams on the face of it, but neither will want to settle for that, and a win will arguably springboard either team into contention for big things this year.
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