Newcastle United will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League as the race for the top-four enters the second half of the season.
After 18 games played, Eddie Howe's side find themselves third in the Premier League and sitting pretty in the Champions League places. As the halfway mark approaches, Newcastle will be looking to maintain the blistering pace that they have set so far this season.
A 2-1 loss to Liverpool back in August remains the only blemish for the Magpies this term. Jurgen Klopp's men needed a 98th minute winner to inflict Newcastle's only league defeat this campaign as the Tyneside club have shown just how hard they are to beat.
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The FA Cup third round exit to Sheffield Wednesday will of course hurt, but Howe will not let his side dwell on the defeat as the club turn their attention back to the Premier League. Chronicle Live has taken a close look at Newcastle's next five league fixtures and compared them with those of their fellow expected top-four challengers.
Newcastle United - 3rd (35 points)
- Fulham (H) - January 15
- Crystal Palace (A) - January 21
- West Ham (H) - February 4
- Bournemouth (A) - February 11
- Liverpool (H) - February 18
Newcastle, on paper, look to have the easiest run of fixtures compared to their Champions League rivals. Fulham will make the trip to St James' Park on January 15, with the Magpies then travelling down to the capital for what will undoubtedly be a tricky game at Selhurst Park.
Howe's side round off a trio of London-based opposition when they take on West Ham at home. A trip to the south coast sees Newcastle take on 16th placed Bournemouth before a clash with Liverpool will allow the club to try and get revenge on Jurgen Klopp's side for their one league defeat this season.
Manchester United - 4th (35 points)
- Manchester City (H) - January 14
- Crystal Palace (A) - January 18
- Arsenal (A) - January 22
- Crystal Palace (H) - February 4
- Leeds United (H) - February 12
Erik ten Hag's side have hit the ground running since the World Cup, but rivals Man City will be looking to become the first side to beat Man United after the enforced mid-season break. Two tricky away matches in the capital see the Reds play Crystal Palace, before taking on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium just four days later.
Old Trafford will play host to their next two games as they once again come up against Patrick Vieira's side before Leeds United travel to M16 for a pre-Valentine's Day clash.
Tottenham Hotspur - 5th (33 points)
- Arsenal (H) - January 15
- Manchester City (A) - January 19
- Fulham (A) - January 23
- Manchester City (H) - February 5
- Leicester City (A) - February 11
Tottenham kick-off their run of Premer League games with a north London derby against league leaders Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side have set the pace so far this season and will look to secure bragging rights once again over Antonio Conte's side following their 3-1 win back in October.
Elsewhere, a trip to the Etihad sees Spurs take on reigning champions Man City, with Pep Guardiola's side making the trip back down to the capital less than a fortnight later. An away day at the King Power Stadium wraps things up for Tottenham as they come up against the Carabao Cup quarter-finalists.
Liverpool - 6th (28 points)
- Brighton (A) - January 14
- Chelsea (H) - January 21
- Wolves (A) - February 4
- Everton (H) - February 13
- Newcastle (A) - February 18
Jurgen Klopp's side have been uncharacteristically poor this season and find themselves lagging behind the rest of the pack in the race for a top-four finish. Their next five games will certainly not see the pressure ease up, as they start with a difficult trip to the south coast to take on Brighton, before welcoming Chelsea to Anfield.
A trip to Molineux provides Liverpool with some respite on paper, but the side second from bottom look rejuvenated under new manager Julen Lopetegui. A fiery Merseyside derby will see the Toffees travel to Anfield, as a trip to St James' Park rounds off their next batch of Premier League fixtures.
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