Newcastle United team news: Eddie Howe’s side have been handed a welcome boost and a potential selection headache for Barcelona.
Newcastle United head into Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Barcelona at Camp Nou buoyed by a 1-0 win at Chelsea on Saturday.
It was the Magpies’ first clean sheet since January and first away win at Chelsea since 2012. Now on Wednesday, Eddie Howe’s side will have to do something they have never done before and win at Barcelona and progress through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Newcastle were held to a 1-1 draw against the Spanish champions at St James’ Park last week with Harvey Barnes’ late strike cancelled out by a stoppage-time penalty from Lamine Yamal.
It means it’s all square heading into the match at Camp Nou, where Barcelona have won all 12 games since returning. Hansi Flick’s side have also won each of their last seven home matches by three or more goals, beating Sevilla 5-2 over the weekend.
But Newcastle’s recent form has picked up with wins over Manchester United and Chelsea as well as the draw against Barcelona so far this month. Their only defeat came in the FA Cup to Manchester City.
That match marked the return of Tino Livramento after two months out with a hamstring injury. The full-back was named on the bench and came on as a late substitute before doing the same against Barcelona.
Last week, Howe explained Livramento wasn’t quite ready to start matches.
“He probably hasn't done enough training for me to feel 100% confident that he's in that best physical moment, especially for such a big game to start,” Howe explained ahead of the first leg against Barca. “But, he's in our squad and anyone who's in that position obviously is in contention to play.
“So, it's a delicate balance with Tino at the moment. He trained again this morning, he trained again on Friday and he's in good spirits, he's in a good place. He's a massive player for us, it's great to have him back.
“But obviously, I've got to try and get the team section right.”
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Tino Livramento’s impactful NUFC return praised by Anthony Gordon
Livramento then returned to Newcastle’s starting line-up and played the full match against his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Not only did the 23-year-old get through the game, he played a key role in the victory.
It was Livramento’s run and through ball that released Joe Willock to square the ball to Anthony Gordon for the only goal of the game.
It was Gordon’s 16th goal of the season in all competitions this season, his best return to date with 10 of those coming in the Champions League.
And the Magpies forward was keen to give credit to Livramento on his return to the side.
"Sixteen - not bad, is it?” Gordon told the club website. “No, listen, that was all down to [Livramento and Willock]. That goal is as easy as they come, just tap it in the net.
“It was all about Tino's pass - a right back having the awareness to turn, dribble and play that kind of pass is why he's a top level player, but then 'Willy', it's very easy, I've been in that position myself, where you want to just go head down, you want to score a goal, you've got a man behind you and you don't want to take too many risks.
“But he had the awareness, he was quick enough and just very, very unselfish. I'm very thankful for him.”
Gordon himself is also a fitness boost after he bounced back from illness and an omission from the starting line-up against Barcelona last week to score against Chelsea on Saturday.
"I want to keep going,” Gordon said about his goal tally. “I've said this plenty of times to you, we've had plenty of these interviews over the three-and a-half years I've been here, but I want to get to 17 first, and then we'll see where we go from there."
Livramento’s return to the starting line-up also marked Newcastle’s first clean sheet in 15 matches. A welcome boost ahead of their trip to a Barcelona side that is prolific on home turf.
“With the week ahead we've got it was good preparation,” Gordon added. “It's good to have the momentum of winning the game, defending, a clean sheet. I think the style in which we won will be important for the next game, because it might be a similar style of game; they've got some great players like Chelsea, ball players. [Barcelona play] a similar style, so good preparation.
"Since I've been here, the Newcastle I know at their very best is when everyone's defending together, when we're blocking shots, stopping crosses, doubling up in wide areas. That's when we're truly at our best, because we're dogs, we're relentless in everything we do."
Eddie Howe’s selection headache
Livramento’s return to the starting line-up will give Howe a fresh selection headache ahead of the Barcelona match with Kieran Trippier also available for selection having impressed in the first leg before being rested as an unused substitute against Chelsea.
Trippier has had to play through the busy fixture schedule for Newcastle with Livramento, Emil Krafth and Lewis Miley all out injured.
And the major role the 35-year-old still has in the side is not lost on Howe despite Livramento’s return.
“He's such an important player for us,” Howe said about Trippier. “When he plays well and is in a really, really good place, I think the team benefits so much from that.
“There's a big expectation on him to try and deliver, but at the moment he's our only fit, recognised full-back and that's tough for him to take that burden physically, but I think he's managing it really well.”
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