Toon v Reds - Team News ...

Last updated : 31 October 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Cheick Tiote will miss out for Newcastle after failing to shake off a calf problem.

The Ivory Coast midfielder has not figured for the Magpies since his return from international duty earlier this month, and will sit out once again.

Striker Papiss Cisse is also a doubt after suffering a reaction to the screws used to repair his fractured kneecap, while central defender Mike Williamson will not be risked unless he has fully recovered from a muscle strain.

Newcastle (from): Krul, Elliot, Janmaat, Dummett, Haidara, R. Taylor, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Anita, Abeid, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, Gouffran, Obertan, Ameobi, Aarons, Riviere, Cisse, Perez, Armstrong.

Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Newcastle.

Daniel Sturridge (calf), Mamadou Sakho (thigh) and Jon Flanagan (knee) remain unavailable for selection, along with ex-Magpie Jose Enrique, who Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed is sidelined by a knee issue.

In Sturridge's absence, Rodgers will once again make a call on the best option in attack from Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli, who is the only one of the trio to have scored this season and broke an eight-match goal drought earlier this week.

Liverpool (from): Mignolet, Johnson, Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Allen, Lallana, Balotelli, Sterling, Jones, Manquillo, Toure, Can, Markovic, Lucas, Coutinho, Lambert, Borini.

Steven Taylor's return to the Magpies side has seen Newcastle's defence improve on stringency and his leadership at the back was crucial as the North-East club held on for the win at White Hart Lane.

However, Paul Dummett, who excelled in both defensive and attacking zones, also played well, as did Moussa Sissoko and Ayoze Perez.

Earlier in the week, Newcastle again performed excellently as they downed Manchester City by a 2-0 score.

A number of familiar first team players were key in the victory, like Daryl Janmaat, Fabricio Coloccini, the returning Ryan Taylor, but also Rolando Aarons, Adam Armstrong and Gabriel Obertan.

This gives manager Alan Pardew a selection headache heading into the home game against Liverpool, writers Paul Merson for Sky Sports.

Paul Merson: "Who does Alan Pardew play in this game?

"The kids that did great against Man City in the Capital One Cup or go back to the team that won at Tottenham… I would say winning at Man City was a better result!

"Let’s see if Mario Balotelli can kick on after that good finish in the Cup game against Swansea and go on and score a few more. The jury is still out on him though. One goal in the Cup doesn’t mean a lot."