Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday evening
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot saw his side draw 1-1 with Sunderland
View Image
Newcastle United have been told what they must do to combat Sunderland's key strength when the two sides go head to head in the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016.
Eddie Howe takes his side to the Stadium of Light on Sunday, December 14, with the Black Cats taking the top flight by surprise in their first season since promotion from the Championship.
Regis Le Bris' side sit sixth in the table and picked up another point with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Wednesday night.
A goal from Chemsdine Talbi threatened to shock the defending Premier League champions until Florian Wirtz danced through the defence and saw his shot go in off Nordi Mukiele.
Even then the visitors could have snatched a rare win had Wilson Isidor's one-man counter-attack not been denied by Federico Chiesa's goal-line clearance.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was clear over Sunderland's big threat in a verdict that Newcastle and head coach Howe will be taking note of.
"It is clear that teams who play us think they can get a result," said Slot, whose side narrowly avoided a 10th defeat in 14 matches.
"In the second half there was only one team that had the ball, but if they had one free-kick they could bring it to our half with a long ball, that is a danger with them.
"They have shown they are a threat with set-pieces. The good thing is we didn't concede from a set-piece."
The draw means Liverpool have won just two of their last nine Premier League games, with the two points dropped after Sunday's morale-boosting win at West Ham.
"I was hoping for more but I knew how difficult it was," Slot added.
"A deflection led to us going 1-0 down and in recent games we have found it really hard to get an equaliser, but we have had a bit of luck.
"In the final minutes of the game we were close to making it 2-1 because we had a few set-pieces but then I look up and I saw the player of them (Isidor) completely free on the halfway line.
"The good thing is Fede could have thought it is nothing to do with me, but he kept sprinting and the draw was the minimum he deserved and we did."
Newcastle host Burnley on Saturday before travelling to face Bayer Leverkusen in Germany on Wednesday night and then turn their attentions to the derby game, while Sunderland take on Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday.