There will be an extra edge around Monday night's Premier League clash at St James' Park
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe (left) and Liverpool's Arne Slot
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe (left) and Liverpool's Arne Slot
It will be feisty all right, with more edge than a broken plate. A match up of good memories and bad blood. Of terrace aggression and boardroom suspicion.
Newcastle vs Liverpool on Monday night. The passions of Geordies pitched against Scousers. Only this time with the furnace fire turned up even higher than ever.
Let's face the feisty facts first. Liverpool unsettled Anthony Gordon to such an extent that United lost his mind for around six months. Now they have stirred it again big time with Alexander Isak to the point where football can talk about nothing else but the striker who has gone on strike.
To make matters worse England's Premier League champions moved in to pinch United's long-term target Hugo Ekitike at the same time as unsettling Isak who has taken it to ridiculous proportions all of which has threatened to derail the Mags' return to the Champions League before even a plane ticket is booked.
It's easy to imagine that things could be a tad frosty in the boardroom before kick off!
Of course despite all this Liverpool provide the happiest memories for Geordies since the European Fairs Cup was claimed way back in 1969. Maybe they won the title by a country mile last season but Liverpool were outgunned and out-thought in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
That success in March means United are seeking back-to-back wins against the Reds for the first time since November 1995 when a 2-1 PL home victory was swiftly followed by 1-0 League Cup away win.
However on the other hand United cannot seem to get one over Liverpool in the league these modern times. We haven't beaten them since December 2015 when we prevailed 2-0 at SJP. Since then 17 league meetings have resulted in five draws and 12 losses.
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All of which provides an emotive backdrop to what promises to be a momentous opener to United's home campaign.
Liverpool are full of power and purpose going forward but vulnerable at the back. United are more the other way round.
They have strengthened their squad to significant effect with Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey and Aaron Ramsdale but have a huge black hole at centre-forward to spoil all the promise.
Add the fact that Sven Botman and Lewis Hall are available again after injury and Jacob Murphy is lurking ominously and the bench is certainly beefed up.
The question remains however: where are the goals coming from?
Gordon is United's new look emergency centre-forward or false nine. New look not just in playing central but in Alice band to keep newly acquired flowing blond locks under some sort of control. His endearing enthusiasm, willing pressing, and pace are a delight - we have the original Scouser back - and it would be lovely if he could make Liverpool pay.
When the League Cup was gloriously claimed the platform for victory was anchored in midfield where Bruno, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton literally bullied Liverpool's own aristocrats. Repeat performance please!
Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United celebrates with the winners trophy following the Carabao Cup Final
Sandro Tonali celebrates with the winners trophy following the Carabao Cup Final
If the champions have a vulnerability it is they can be too exposed in transitions and turnovers, a point substantiated by the fact that the two goals shipped in their win over Bournemouth meant they have already conceded as many goals from counter-attacks as they did across the entirety of last season.
The return of Ryan Gravenberch with his ability to take care of the ball in tight spaces will undoubtedly help after his suspension on the opening weekend but Arne Slot fixing the issue of his team being brutally countered - a theme also on display in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace - will go a long way towards determining how many points they will have on the board by the September international break.
United have the speed to punish Liverpool on turnovers with their front three blisteringly quick supported well all over the pitch.
Of course the Reds have tried to upgrade their championship winning side with the purchase of further players. Their new full-back pairing of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez signals the start of them moving away from the legendary tandem of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson while Florian Wirtz has arrived for a club-record £116m fee to become their archetypal No 10 and there is a new leader of the line in £79m Ekitike.
He is already looking like the Kop's new darling which prompts the question: do Liverpool really need Isak at such a phenomenal price when a cover signing could well suffice?