Liverpool v Newcastle - Premier League match preview.

A Sunday lunchtime trip to Anfield awaits Newcastle United as they head to Liverpool for match that has a bit more spice to it than it should do.

I mean the two clubs aren't jostling in and around the same positions in the league, so there is really no rivalry in that regard. Instead the focus is on one man and one man alone - Andy Carroll. Our former number nine broke the hearts of Newcastle fans when upped and left for Liverpool on transfer deadline day, and this match at Anfield represents the first chance for fans of NUFC to show the player how they feel about him and his departure.

I'd argue that, spent wisely, the £35 million we received for Andy Carroll could be the making of us as a Premier League team and could help to propel us to the next level. Do we miss Carroll? Yes, of course, but we've struggled on without him and have actually gained more points per game without him in the team (1.26) than we did when he was in the side (1.15). Still he is a Liverpool player now, which brings me neatly onto the team news.

The man in question may not even feature tomorrow after jarring his knee against Arsenal two weeks ago. Even if he is fit there is no guarantee of him starting after Liverpool demolished Birmingham 5-0 last weekend without him in the side. Glen Johnson is also rated as doubtful as he nurses a hamstring strain.

If those two don't make it they will join Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Martin Kelly and Steven Gerrard on the sidelines. Those four players are all definitely out which will mean that Liverpool will name the same side that started against Birmingham. That was:

Liverpool: Pepe Reina, John Flanagan, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Jack Robinson, Raul Meireles, Jay Spearing, Lucas, Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez.

Onto the important team news now, and Kevin Nolan should be fit for the away side after suffering from a groin injury against Blackpool last week. Stephen Ireland is now back at Aston Villa whilst Hatem Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling continue to recover from their long term injuries. Alan Smith, Leon Best and Danny Guthrie are all sidelined still.

That will mean that we will probably line up with the same side that drew 1-1 at Bloomfield Road last weekend, although they will need to play much much better if they want to a point or more from Anfield. Anyway, that team was:

Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Joey Barton, Cheik Tiote, Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands.

Newcastle traditionally don't get results at Anfield. In fact our last win there was 17 years ago, or 15 games ago, when Rob Lee and Andy Cole scored the goals in a 2-0 win for Newcastle. If Liverpool win it will be their 50th victory over Newcastle.

If Joey Barton gets sent off again he will become the first away player in history to be sent off on three different occasions at Anfield.

Liverpool have taken 27 points from the last 39 available and have scored in all of their Premier League matches in 2011.

I'd love it if we could get the win on Sunday, love it. Unfortunately I can't see it though and think the best that we can do is draw, mainly because I can't see where our goals are going to come from. Liverpool are likely to score and I can't see us scoring two goals to be honest. Hopefully I'm just doom-mongering and I get proved completely wrong in the end, but a good performance that is improved from last week will do for me.

The game is live on ESPN and is scheduled for an unusually early 12pm kick-off, so set those alarms and get behind the lads. If you're going, have a good'un, watch out for scallywags, and coppers with big sticks. You'll have more chance of seeing them than you will of seeing that "famous Anfield atmosphere" :roll:

Howay the lads!