Looking at this Newcastle United team v Sunderland.
Eddie Howe’s side aiming to make it three Premier League wins in a row.
That excellent win with 10 men against Man U, then of course another great display and victory at Chelsea.
Newcastle United also looking to bounce back after their Champions League exit in midweek.
After this derby match there then immediately follows an international break.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Barcelona:
Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Eddie Howe saying that he is hoping to have Sandro Tonali available, as his injury didn’t prove serious after Barcelona in midweek. The United boss saying he would know more when the players trained.
However, the NUFC manager stating that Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar are expected to be back available after the international break.
Taking all of that into consideration…
This is my predicted Newcastle United team v Sunderland:
Pope, Livarmento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes
If the above ends up as the reality, it would mean two changes for Eddie Howe compared to the team that started against Barcelona.
With coming in – Pope, Livramento
Dropping out – Ramsdale, Trippier
I think the midweek Champions League midweek match saw Eddie Howe play what he considers is his best available team, certainly in midfield and up front.
So long as Tonali is ok to play, I can’t see a change to the midfield trio.
Whilst up front, I think the emphasis on pace will remain, with Gordon through the middle. Barnes able to play on his favoured left side, whilst Elanga on the other side with his confidence buoyed by the two goals against Barcelona.
Eddie Howe has been alternating between Burn and Botman but especially as it is a derby match, I can’t see Burn not playing in this one. Especially after that horrific cowardly challenge caused him that nasty injury down at their place.
Tino Livramento is now fit and available and played well at Chelsea in the win there. No surprise to see Trippier return and play against Barcelona with Tino having made his first comeback start the previous weekend. My assumption is that now with only Premier League matches to play, Livramento will start each match.
Aaron Ramsdale didn’t make any glaring errors against Barcelona but my guess is that Nick Pope could come back in now, having had some matches out of the firing line and able to refocus.