Bazoumana Toure of Newcastle United
Bazoumana Toure could start against Liverpool(Image: Richard Lee/Shutterstock)
Matthias Jaissle will hand in his first Newcastle United Premier League team sheet in a few hours as the Magpies head coach names the side to start this afternoon's season-opener against Liverpool.
Who the German picks to face the Reds will be fascinating and should give a blg clue over what he wants to see from his side this coming season.
Joelinton and Tino Livramento will miss the game, although the latter is closing in on a return from injury, while Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Lewis Miley have all had limited time on the pitch in pre-season.
Jaissle has decisions to make all over the field . . . who starts in goal, the make-up of his backline, the midfield combnation and who should make up the forward line.
Here, we've picked the side we want to see this afternoon - with your chance to select your NUFC XI too.
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Sean McCormick
It would be a big surprise if Jaissle did not continue with his 4-2-3-1 formation having used it in all four of the pre-season matches he has taken charge of so far this season.
Lukas Hornicek will start in goal, with Amar Dedic certain to make a debut at right-back and Lewis Hall starting at left-back. Malick Thiaw will start in the centre of defence but the big decision is whether Dan Burn or Sven Botman partners him. Botman has struggled in pre-season but Jaissle was pretty non-committal when asked if Burn was ready to play 90 minutes so he may well favour the Dutchman.
In midfield, Lewis Miley is another player who didn't feature much in pre-season meaning it is more likely Jacob Ramsey and Sean Steur partner each other.
Anthony Elanga has had a strong pre-season and will start on the right-wing, while I think Harvey Barnes' defensive work gives him the edge over Bazoumana Toure - who I think looks a superb signing - on the left in this game.
With no natural number 10 in the squad I would start Yoane Wissa just in behind Will Osula up front.
My NUFC XI: Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Ramsey, Steur; Elanga, Wissa, Barnes; Osula.
Stuart Jamieson
I'm a fan of Jaissle's 4-2-3-1 formation, but he has to pick the right players to make it work. I'm not sure Newcastle have the players to compete with Liverpool aerially, when it comes to attack, so I want to see United hit them with pace and whipped-in crosses.
That means a debut for Bazoumana Toure on the left, while I'm switching Harvey Barnes to right, with Yoane Wissa through the middle. He's the only natural goalscorer at the club.
Jacob Ramsey should be unleashed as a No 10, ahead of the midfield pair of debutants Sean Steur and Aladjii Bamba. I would normally always for for Lewis Miley, but it's too much to ask him to play against Liverpool's midfield after just 45 mintues of pre-season action.
The same could be said of Dan Burn, but after Sven Botman's summer to forget, the new captain starts alongside Malick Thiaw, with new signing Amar Dedic at right-back.
The debutants are completed with Lukas Hornicek in goal, one of five new boys in the side. It's a gamble, and let's not be too hasty to judge, but we'll soon see what they are made of
My NUFC XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Bamba, Steur, Ramsey, Barnes, Toure, Wissa.
Pick your NUFC side
You've seen our team, here's your chance to pick the side you want to line-up against Liverpool.
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