3 min Newcastle only half-clear, and Johnson teases out a cross after a nifty Gerrard backheel. Cleared behind for another Livepool corner.
2 min Coutinho finds Johnson from deep, picking him out artfully on the right. The full back crosses early for Sturridge in the middly, the uncatchilly-named Yanga-Mbiwa clears behind for a corner.
1 min Here we go then, Newcastle kick off, Liverpool force them back. ESPN's pundit-in-chief Chris Waddle says he's looking forward to it, and so am I.
17.27 The teams are out. The Mark Knopfler song is playing. We are not far away at all.
17.20 This afternoon's retro highlights are brought to you by the year 1971:
17.10 Brendan Rodgers is asked if the top six is still attainable for Liverpool. "Well that's the idea," he replies, not really sounding sure of himself. Everton suddenly looking a bit handy, aren't they? They're only three points off fourth after beating Fulham this afternoon, but obviously Chelsea and Arsenal have yet to play this weekend.
17.00 I'd be remiss not to tell you about what's just happened in League One. Stick with me... Brentford were playing Doncaster at Griffin Park, with Brentford needing a win to be promoted. Doncaster would go up with a draw or a win. In a tight goalless match, Brentford were awarded a penalty in injury time. (!) Fulham loanee Marcello Trotta stepped up to take it... And hit the bar! From the clearance Doncaster broke and scored. Because of Bournemouth only drawing at Tranmere, they've also won the League One championship. The scenes: they are brilliant.
16.48 Alright then, let's have some teams:
Newcaste: Elliot; Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara; Perch, Tiote, Cabaye (c); Sissoko, Cisse, Gutierrez
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Anita, Ben Arfa, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi
Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard (c); Downing, Henderson, Coutinho; Sturridge
Subs: Jones, Wisdom, Coates, Skrtel, Shelvey, Suso, Borini
Referee: Andre Marriner
16.30 Afternoon liveblog fans.
At this stage of this limp season all we can collectively hope for is the odd game that means a little bit to one of the sides involved, or perhaps some mild holidays-are-coming high-scoring excitement.
This match potentially has both. Newcastle are in trouble. Only two points from the relegation zone, and probably a pair of wins from proper safety, you feel they're relying on the teams around them being a bit rubbish rather than any proficiency of their own.
Fortunately they're playing a Liverpool side shorn of their lynchpin and one of the best man-biters ever to play in front of the Kop.
It'll be an interesting experiment for Brendan Rodgers' side to play without the man that so much of their attacking gameplan is built upon, but Daniel Sturridge was impressive off the bench against Chelsea and they have showed signs of goalscoring prowess since they remembered to buy some strikers in January.
It's all reasonably exciting in prospect. I'm reasonably sure this is going to happen again:
Let's get stuck into this preview:
Saturday, April 27 2013
Newcastle United v Liverpool
St James' Park
Kick-off: 17.30 BST.
TV: Live ESPN, Highlights BBC ONE Match of the Day.
Newcastle (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Elliot; Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haïdara; Gouffran, Cabaye, Tioté, Gutierrez; Sissoko; Cissé.
Out: Coloccini (match fitness), Krul (shoulder), Marveaux (groin), Santon (hamstring), R Taylor (cruciate ligaments).
Liverpool (Possible, 4-3-3): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson; Downing, Sturridge, Coutinho.
Out: Allen (shoulder), Flanagan, Kelly (both knee), Suárez (suspended).
Test: Borini (shoulder).
Referee: Andre Marriner. Matches: 22, R3 Y67.
Team News
Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tioté could return to the side against Liverpool.
Tioté missed the 1-1 draw at West Brom last weekend with a hamstring injury, but resumed training this week and will be available.
Captain Fabricio Coloccini is also back on the training pitch after a back problem, but he is short of match fitness after seven weeks on the sidelines.
Midfielder Sylvain Marveaux is out and full-back Davide Santon may not play again this season along with keeper Tim Krul and utility man Ryan Taylor.
Meanwhile, Liverpool striker Luis Suárez begins his 10-match suspension for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic and misses the trip to Newcastle.
Daniel Sturridge, who came on as a substitute to score one and provide the assist for the equaliser in a dramatic 2-2 draw, will take the Uruguay international's place.
Reduced options up front because of Suarez's absence could mean forward Fabio Borini, out since February with a dislocated shoulder but training again, could make the squad.
Match Notes
This fixture could not have gone much better for Newcastle last season as their former striker Andy Carroll left the pitch close to tears after a miserable return to St James' Park and their former defender, Jose Enrique, ended up playing in goal at the end of a 2-0 defeat for the visitors.
The Magpies would just love three points this time to finally bring an end to their lingering relegation fears.
Liverpool will be after revenge, while Brendan Rodgers could do with an away win to add weight to his argument of progress this season.
Betting: Home 2-1, Away 13-10, Draw 12-5.
Stat of the game: There has been a red card in each of the last two Premier League meetings between these teams..
Luke Edwards' prediction: Newcastle United 1 Liverpool 1.
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