Key events
Teams
Sandro Tonali and Malick Thiaw are the two players to drop out of Eddie Howe’s starting lineup from the midweek encounter against Barcelona. Sven Botman and Nick Woltemade are in.
Newcastle: Ramsdale, Trippier, Botman, Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Joelinton, Woltemade, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes. Substitutes: Pope, Wissa, Thiaw, Osula, Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Willock, Alex Murphy, Neave.
Sunderland: Ellborg, Geertruida, O’Nien, Alderete, Hume, Xhaka, Rigg, Diarra, Sadiki, Talbi, Brobbey. Substitutes: Moore, Cirkin, Mayenda, Mandava, Isidor, Mukiele, Le Fee, Harrison Jones, Jenson Jones.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Preamble
It’s a big week for Newcastle. Some might say massive. They initially gave an excellent account of themselves against Barcelona on Wednesday, trailing 3-2 after an enthralling first half. The second half did not go so well. Eddie Howe’s men were eventually beaten 7-2 on the night and 8-3 on aggregate, overwhelmed by Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and co.
The sporting challenge against Sunderland will be quite different – let’s be honest, they have a somewhat less free-flowing style than Barça – but if Eddie Howe’s side can achieve a first top-flight win against the Black Cats since 2010, the Camp Nou capitulation will be forgiven and forgotten.
Régis Le Bris and his Sunderland players arrive with the incentive that three points would see them leapfrog Newcastle: the Magpies are 11th, on 42pts, today’s visitors are 13th, sitting on the symbolic figure of 40. History is absolutely on Sunderland’s side, in that they have won seven and drawn three of the past 10 league meetings between these sides. Howe will hope history counts for nothing this afternoon.
Kick-off: 12pm GMT