Welcome to today’s Newcastle United live blog for Friday, September 29.
Newcastle United host Liverpool on Sunday in what will be a big test of their Premier League credentials - again in front of the TV cameras.
Rafa Benitez kept faith with Joselu for the defeat at Brighton but the Spaniard was wasteful in-front of goal . Jonjo Shelvey and Mikel Merino played the final 25 minutes together.
As ever we want to hear from you, so please send us your thoughts over Facebook at www.facebook.com/chroniclenufc/ or on Twitter at @ChronicleNUFC.
Join Sean McCormick, Andrew Musgrove, Lee Ryder and Chris Waugh for live updates throughout the day as we bring you all the latest news, views and transfer gossip on all things Newcastle United.
Newcastle United 1-1 Liverpool
Key Events
That's it from us!
Thanks for joining us today. We’ll be back tomorrow - here’s a quick round-up.
- Jonjo Shelvey is not guaranteed a starting place against Liverpool
- Rafa Benitez responds to contract talk - read that here
- The gaffer’s message to fans ahead of Liverpool game
- Gallowgate flag still needs volunteers for Sunday
- Pundits give their take on this weekend’s game
We’ll see you tomorrow.
Can you help?
Gallowgate Flags need your help.
The Gallowgate Flags group need another 40 or so volunteers as they get ready for their biggest display yet for the home game against Liverpool .
The group will unveil a new Rafa Benitez-themed flag that is being kept under wraps until kick off – as well as all of their retro shirt flags, four surfer flags and a new Northern Soul flag funded by t-shirt sales over the summer.
Mark Douglas on Liverpool
This from his Facebook page
Just returned from a relaxed Rafa Benitez press conference where he talked Liverpool (a lot) and a bit about Newcastle’s need not to over-react to last weekend’s defeat.
I don’t think anyone has, actually. 3 wins from six is on par. If Newcastle United get anything out of Sunday, it would be a huge bonus.
No injuries - Lejeune is back - so there’s a few selection dilemmas, not least up front and in the midfield engine room.
Here’s how I’d go....
GK: Elliot
RB: Yedlin
CB: Clark
CB: Lascelles
LB: Mbemba
RM: Ritchie
LM: Atsu
CM: Merino
CM: Shelvey
NUMBER 10: Perez
ST: Joselu
Yes, yes: I understand what people say about Perez but he’s certainly a more complete player than Diame and I don’t think either Merino or Shelvey are number tens in the Rafa sense of the word.
Joselu gets the nod because the team have looked more dangerous with him than they ever did without him. Mitrovic simply won’t walk back into the team....
Big game: looking forward to it.
Look what we found. . .
The last ever Pink and special Alan Shearer tribute. . .
Rafa's conference
So what did Rafa Benitez say?
- Only Paul Dummett and Massadio Haïdara are injured - Florian Lejeune is back
- Admits the game against Liverpool will be emotional - but three points for United is key
- Says Jonjo Shevely is a ‘great player’ ahead of Liverpool game but refuses to reveal his team
- Wants United to strong and organised if they are to beat Liverpool this Sunday
Press conference
Rafa Benitez is due in around 10 minutes for today’s press conference.
Klopp on NUFC
Klopp: “It means nothing in terms of the Newcastle game. We have to sort our problems, pick a line-up and give respect to Newcastle.
“They’re a good team, well organised, unlucky at Brighton with the goal.
“We know their quality, but the situation in terms of points. Sevilla and Moscow felt like a defeat but it wasn’t.
“11 points sounds not perfect, but it’s not like we cannot see the other teams.
“I saw Newcastle’s full game against Brighton. Good team and they were unlucky. We know about their quality.
Klopp on missed chances
Klopp: “We have to keep on going. Again and again and again. Should I speak about the two headers Roberto and Salah had in Moscow and say ‘if you hit it like this instead...?’
“We need to stay confident, and keep doing it. At the moment, our aim is to be better than average. It makes no sense to criticise finishing. It’s about creating and using the qualities of the boys.
“It’s my responsibility, but I cannot shoot from the bench! “
Klopp on Rafa
Klopp: “I met Rafa once when he was manager of Liverpool. We beat them 5-0 at Mainz! The rest is history.”
“Hopefully he remembers that! The big success, we met meanwhile 10-15 times in different occasions and it was always really nice. He’s a very interesting person and we always had a good time.
“He’s still connected to the club, and wishes the club all the best - how it should be after his fantastic time here.
“Even in the summer we had talks. I know him better than most of the other PL managers. It’s nice, but no impact on the game!”
Klopp updates
We’ll also have live updates from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool press conference, which is about to get under way.
Newcastle United scout Europa League game
So NUFC scouted Sporting Braga vs Turkish side Basaksehir in the Europa League on Thursday night. It was a 2-1 win for the home side, with Fransergio scoring a late winner.
Looking through the line-ups for both sides (published below), it looks like our old friend Mevlut Erdinc was playing for the visitors. Surely not....
1Matheus34Raúl Silva
27’24Ricardo Ferreira47Ricardo Esgaio87Marcelo Goiano
35N.S. Vukčević23João Carlos
26’Coach: Abel Ferreira
1V. Babacan27M. da Costa
