Newcastle XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes

We’re expecting team news and the official line-ups in around five minutes time so stick around for the big news…

Last season, the match at St James’ Park produced one of the games of the season as the teams played out a superb 3-3 draw, while the Reds won 2-0 at home at Anfield.

However, it was the Magpies who got the win in the most important meeting last campaign, when Eddie Howe’s side ran out 2-1 winners in the Carabao Cup final.

These two sides have met 190 times in the past, with the first meeting dating back to 1893.

Unsurprisingly, Liverpool have the better of the head-to-head record, having won 94 matches.

Newcastle have won 51, while 45 have ended as draws.

Newcastle don’t have a striker to start but the player operating instead of one could have gone to Liverpool last summer. Liverpool do have a striker and he is one Newcastle tried to sign this summer. The Alexander Isak derby will not feature Isak, but will be framed around him.

Not so much by Slot, who got through a 15-minute press conference with a solitary, late mention of the forward he has tried to buy, but by the wider world.

More from the Liverpool boss who says that Newcastle will get a boost from the ‘amazing’ atmosphere inside the stadium tonight and likened it to the one at Anfield last week.

“The atmosphere is amazing [is] because the players can perform, they can add to the atmosphere by being as intense as they were, bringing the quality as they brought in that game,” Slot said.

“So, that’s going to be the challenge. The challenge is also playing in a stadium where the fans will be there for the home team, and that always helps every home team.

“I can tell you about us, so the last 15 to 20 minutes at Anfield, it wasn’t a coincidence that we scored twice because the fans helped us in that moment of time.”

Arne Slot isn’t taking this match for granted and knows that Newcastle possess the ability to hurt his Liverpool team as evidenced in the League Cup final last season.

Speaking about what he expects from tonight’s match Slot said: “If you go to Newcastle you know what to expect. We played them three times last season and twice their intensity levels were above ours.

“In the League Cup final, they were more intense than us so I don’t think they need anything to add for them to be intense if they play at St. James’ Park.

“Apart from the intensity, it’s a very good team, they have also a team that can make it a fight, they have players for this but they also have players that are so comfortable on the ball.

“So, one of the best teams in the league and one of the most difficult away games you can have in the season, especially as you say here, ‘under the lights’.”

Ryan Gravenberch is expected to start tonight’s match for Liverpool after missing their opener due to suspension.

Arne Slot revealed why he is an important for the team and how his inclusion can help Liverpool be more solid.

“I think a lot. At least if he is the same player as he was last season, that could help us a lot,” Slot explained.

“If you just simply look at the second goal we conceded [against Bournemouth], they could just go from one side from the 18-yard box to the other side without being attacked, which was smart because Virgil [van Dijk] and Ibou [Konate] needed to go back because it was a four-versus-two situation.

“I think if you look back at last season and every single time he played, Ryan would have been in that position and for him not being there and us playing with very good players but very attack-minded players, that hurt us in that goal, for example, and that wasn’t the first time where we lacked a player in that position on a counter-attack for the other team.

“Normally, if he brings his normal level, it would definitely help us to have him back again.”

New signing Jacob Ramsey could be thrust into the heat of Newcastle’s much-anticipated clash with Premier League champions Liverpool.

The 24-year-old midfielder joined the Magpies from Aston Villa last week in a deal which could eventually amount to £43million, and has been training with Eddie Howe’s squad as they prepare for Monday night’s showdown at St James’ Park.

Howe has already been impressed by what he has seen and while he is generally reluctant to throw new acquisitions in at the deep end, he has hinted that Ramsey could be involved.

That is the question on everyone’s minds especially after the Magpies drew 0-0 against 10-man Aston Villa last time out.

Isak is confirmed not to be in the squad so Anthony Gordon looks set to start centrally again.

“He’s done it enough to do the job really well for the team,” said Howe of Gordon playing as the main striker.

“I have no issue playing him there a number of times both as a starter and a substitute. He plays differently to other strikers but that can be a positive.

“He’s got devastating pace, a really good work ethic and he’s scored goals. I think he played really well last week in lots of different phases of his game.”