"I think we are getting closer but you need points." Those were the words ushered by Eddie Howe as he stood in the Anfield tunnel, deflated and disheartened after a Fabio Carvalho winner for Liverpool back in August. Little did the Newcastle United boss know that he was spot on with his assessment when it came to turning decent performances into results.
The Magpies have only tasted defeat once since suffering that last-gasp heartache on Merseyside, succumbing to Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup after a host of first-team changes from Howe. Premier League form may have stuttered of late but Newcastle have still only failed to pick up points once in the top flight this term.
A win over Liverpool at St James' Park this weekend would essentially end the Reds' faint top four hopes, while simultaneously getting Newcastle's campaign firmly back on track. The man likely to be spearheading Newcastle's attack is already familiar with hurting the Reds.
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Alexander Isak made his Toon debut at Anfield and found the net with a well-taken finish that night. The Swede saw a second strike ruled out after half-time as VAR judged him to be offside by the barest of margins.
Isak hailed his performance that evening as a 'dream debut' but his Newcastle career hasn't gone exactly to plan as of yet. Thigh issues have plagued his time on Tyneside thus far but the former La Liga hitman looks ready to deliver on a regular basis.
Callum Wilson faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday's evening kick-off. Chronicle Live understands the striker trained on his own earlier this week and also went for a scan to assess a hamstring problem picked up in training.
Isak found the net against Fulham last month and was instrumental off the bench when the Magpies beat Southampton at St Mary's. Now, the striker must seize the opportunity to nail down a starting spot under Howe.
"He’s been training really, really well. He’s been electric with some of the things he’s done in training," the Newcastle manager said recently. "He's consistently improved since coming back from his injury. Delighted to have a player of his calibre with this opportunity.”
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