Newcastle United may not have a better opportunity to exact revenge on Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool for the only blemish on their Premier League record this season. A late Fabio Carvalho winner meant the Magpies would taste defeat on the road at Anfield, back in August.
It remains their only defeat in the top flight this season, an incredible feat given the reverse fixture took place in August. So much has happened since then, but one thing has, Newcastle presence in the European places.
There can be no denying Eddie Howe's side are performing above expectations, rubbing shoulders with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Spurs for a Champions League berth. There's no sign of Chelsea and indeed this weekend's opponents, Liverpool, in the race for the top-four.
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Klopp's side are nine points adrift of the Magpies having endured a torrid start to the campaign by their usual standards. The Reds boss has previously admitted he was worried about their poor run of form, with question marks over his future at the club.
Fortunately for him, they ended a four game winless run, with a win in the Merseyside Derby on Monday night, edging them closer to Newcastle and the European places. A win at St. James' Park this weekend would give their resurgence the shot in the arm it needs.
However, Liverpool have picked up just eight points on the road in the Premier League this season, their only wins away from home coming at Tottenham Hotspur and their most recent, at Aston Villa on Boxing Day . Relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest and Wolves have both beaten the Reds on home soil this season, with their other two points coming at Fulham on the opening day of the season and Everton in the first Merseyside Derby of the campaign.
In ten games, Klopp's side have scored 11 and conceded 19, placing them 15th in the Premier League away form table. Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, West Ham United and Everton are the only sides to have picked up less points than the Reds on their travels this season (8 points).
Newcastle on the other hand, are yet to taste defeat on home soil this season, making it that bit tougher for Klopp's side to get a result. Howe's side have conceded just six goals at St. James' Park in the Premier League and come away with 23 points from a possible 33 available to them.
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