Matthias Jaissle will name his first Newcastle United Premier League starting XI in the coming hours, as the Magpies head coach selects the side to begin this afternoon's season opener against Liverpool. The German's team choice is expected to offer a clear indication of his tactical intentions for the coming campaign.
Team news and selection dilemmas
Joelinton and Tino Livramento will miss the match, although Livramento is close to returning from injury. Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Lewis Miley have all had limited pre-season minutes, leaving Jaissle with decisions across the pitch—from goalkeeper and defence to midfield and attack.
Jaissle has used a 4-2-3-1 formation in all four pre-season matches he has overseen, making it likely he will stick with that system. Lukas Hornicek is expected to start in goal, with Amar Dedic certain to make his debut at right-back and Lewis Hall on the left. Malick Thiaw will start at centre-back, but the key question is whether Dan Burn or Sven Botman partners him, with Botman struggling in pre-season and Jaissle non-committal on Burn's fitness for 90 minutes.
Predicted lineups from our writers
Sean McCormick's XI: Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Ramsey, Steur; Elanga, Wissa, Barnes; Osula. He notes Lewis Miley's limited pre-season means Jacob Ramsey and Sean Steur are more likely to partner in midfield, while Anthony Elanga starts on the right and Harvey Barnes edges out Bazoumana Toure on the left due to defensive work. Yoane Wissa is selected just behind Will Osula, with no natural number 10 in the squad.
Stuart Jamieson's XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Bamba, Steur, Ramsey, Barnes, Toure, Wissa. Jamieson wants pace and whipped-in crosses to counter Liverpool's aerial threat, giving a debut to Bazoumana Toure on the left and switching Harvey Barnes to the right. He would deploy Jacob Ramsey as a number 10, with debutants Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba in midfield, and prefers Dan Burn over Sven Botman after the latter's difficult summer. Lukas Hornicek completes a side featuring five new signings.
Fan selection and coverage
Readers are invited to pick their own Newcastle United XI to face Liverpool as part of the pre-match coverage.
