Newcastle vs Liverpool team news: Christian Benteke leads the line ahead of Daniel Sturridge for Jurgen Klopp's Reds

The match kicks off at 4pm

James Orr
Sunday 06 December 2015 11:08 EST
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Christian Benteke will start for Liverpool today
Christian Benteke will start for Liverpool today

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£32.5m striker Christian Benteke starts for Liverpool today in their Premier League match at Newcastle United. Daniel Sturridge, who scored two goals for the Reds midweek in the 6-1 League Cup win over Southampton, drops to the bench.

Steve McClaren has made one change to his Newcastle team, Siem De Jong in for Ayoze Perez.

Newcastle have won just won two out of 14 matches league matches, and sit in 19th place in the Premier League.

The Magpies under-pressure manager McClaren, though, remains convinced that one positive result would turn their season around.

Asked about the mood within the camp, he said: "These players have taken a hit in the last two weeks, the club has and we all have. But it's focused, it's focused and determined.

The players know and we know that with just one performance, one result, we can turn it around. When confidence comes back, we have got good players, good, talented, young players. As young players, they have got to go through that.

"Football is over a season. We knew there were problems, we knew we would have to build a new culture and environment and a way or working and playing. We knew that would take time and it's taking time.

"But what you are hoping and what you are looking for is the next performance, the next result to turn that around, and that 's how quickly it can be turned around, and Sunday is an opportunity to do that."

Teams

Newcastle: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Wijnaldum; De Jong, Cisse.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Milner, Ibe, Firmino, Benteke.

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