Watford vs Burnley LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates from this afternoon’s 3pm fixtures

Hardly a surprise that Liverpool are rotating, given their hectic fixture schedule but with Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold only on the bench, is there an ever greater chance of Newcastle getting something from the game now?

A front three of Diaz-Mane-Jota is hardly weak and Joe Gomez is a more-than-capable fill-in at right-back but it will be interesting to see how the Reds do without two of their talismen.

Big news out of the Liverpool camp as Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are only on the bench.

NewcastleXI: Dúbravka, Burn, Krafth, Schär, Targett, Shelvey, Willock, Bruno Guimarães, Saint-Maximin, Almirón, Joelinton

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Keita; Diaz, Mane, Jota

Not long until we find out today’s team news for the lunchtime fixture. Less than five minutes until both squads are revealed.

Eddie Howe had hoped that a couple of injury returnees would be able to boost his squad, but the Newcastle manager suggested that neither Kieran Trippier nor Callum Wilson is yet ready to be back amongst things. Ryan Fraser could miss the remainder of the season.

Liverpool are dealing with a fixture list full of must-win games as they look to secure the three remaining trophies to complete the quadruple, and, as such, there may be some rotation from Jurgen Klopp. Roberto Firmino is his sole reported major injury concern, though the Brazilian has been back running outdoors.

Switzerland defender Fabian Schar has signed a new two-year contract at Newcastle.

The 30-year-old, who joined Newcastle following Deportivo La Coruna’s relegation from LaLiga in July 2018, has been at the heart of the Magpies’ resurgence under head coach Eddie Howe.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said the centre-half on the club’s website. “It’s what I always wanted – to stay here to play for this unbelievable club.

“Since my first day in Newcastle, I felt so comfortable; it’s like a second home and now to stay here for some more years, I’m delighted.”

Jurgen Klopp described Liverpool as the “perfect place to be” after signing a four-year contract and described this as just the start of things for them and his quadruple-chasing team.

The German is the longest-serving manager in the Premier League and put pen to paper on a four-year deal on Thursday, ensuring he will spend longer in charge of Liverpool than anyone since Bill Shankly.

Klopp urged Liverpool to seize the opportunities in front of them and create special memories they will remember in generations to come.

“This is only the start, that is the plan, that we really go for it,” he said. “There are no guarantees in our situation, our sport. It’s why we have to enjoy the journey. The journey so far is a great one but we don’t know if we will win anything.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been voted the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year.

Egypt international Salah took 48 per cent of the vote, ahead of Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.

Salah has scored 30 goals for the Reds this season, 22 in the Premier League, as Jurgen Klopp’s side chase further domestic and European success.

The 29-year-old wins the FWA award, which has been presented since 1948, for the second time having also been named the 2018 Footballer of the Year.

Liverpool and Manchester City players dominated the votes, with nine of Klopp’s squad receiving individual nominations and a total of six City players recognised.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at the club until 2026.

Klopp joined Liverpool in 2015 and had previously suggested that he would take a break from management at the end of his current deal, which was set to expire in 2024.

But the German manager hinted recently that he would be willing to extend his stay at Anfield and has signed a new deal alongside assistant coaches Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz.

Bad news for Newcastle fans - the Magpies are winless in their last 10 Premier League games agaisnt Liverpool (4 draws, 6 losses) since a 2-0 win back in December 2015.

Liverpool are also unbeaten in their last four away league games against Newcastle and we can expect goals today as only once in 53 PL meetings between the sides has the game finished 0-0.

It has been a big week for Liverpool and they would dearly love to cap it off with a victory at St James’ Park.

On the pitch, there were few signs of weariness despite a hectic recent schedule in a comfortable midweek Champions League semi-final first leg win over Villarreal. In truth, it could easily have been a greater margin of victory than the 2-0 they achieved at Anfield.

Then, manager Jurgen Klopp signed a contract extension until 2026 and talisman Mo Salah was named men’s Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association. Not a bad few days...

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Newcastle vs Liverpool at St James’ Park.

The Premier League weekend kicks off with a fascinating clash as the title-chasing Reds look to leapfrog Man City in the table, temporarily at least, with victory in the northeast.

Standing in their way are the in-form Magpies, who are a team transformed since Eddie Howe took the managerial reins. Premier League safety has been secured a top-half finish is a realistic possibility - which would be a remarkable achievement given their dismal start to the campaign.

But it is with Liverpool where the real interest lies on this Saturday lunchtime as - with just five games remaining - they can’t afford a single slip-up in pursuit of Pep Guardiola’s City.