After a turbulent summer and almost three months since our last competitive meeting on home turf, Monday’s clash with Liverpool can’t come soon enough.
Liverpool arrive following a 4-2 win over Bournemouth on the opening day, while Newcastle return to Tyneside after last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.
It promises to be an electric atmosphere and feisty encounter, and we’ve been handed an early advantage based on some early team news arriving from Merseyside.
Arne Slot has revealed that new right-back **Jeremie Frimpong** has been ruled out of the game after suffering a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined until the end of September’s international break.
That could see Conor Bradley (who has only just returned to training) or Joe Gomez start in his place, if not versatile Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo, with Liverpool lacking fit right-backs following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit.
As for the other good news, Newcastle welcome **Joe Willock** back well ahead of schedule this week, with new signing **Jacob Ramsey** also in line for his debut after training all week.
Willock was ruled out for up to six weeks earlier this month, but the midfielder was pictured back in training on Wednesday afternoon, alongside Ramsey following his £43m switch from Aston Villa.
Neither are likely to start, but it will boost Eddie Howe’s bench options once again, with Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale also pushing for starts after all were named in the squad last weekend.