Confirmed Liverpool v Newcastle lineups: Van Dijk absence explained as Jota starts

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Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Mane, Jota.

Liverpool substitutes: Kelleher, Pitaluga, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Gomez, Minamino, Tsimikas, Williams.

Newcastle United starting XI: Dubravka; Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Lewis; Fraser, Hayden, Shelvey, Murphy; Saint-Maximin, Joelinton.

Newcastle United substitutes: Darlow, Clark, Wilson, Ritchie, Hendrick, Almiron, Willock, Gayle, Longstaff.

Liverpool are without Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones tonight as COVID-19 continues to ravage the Premier League.

Alisson starts in goal whilst Ibrahima Konate comes into the back line alongside Joel Matip.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are the full backs, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are in midfield.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota are in attack, but Roberto Firmino does make it onto the bench.

Firmino is joined by Caoimhin Kelleher, Marcelo Pitaluga, James Milner, Naby Keita, Joe Gomez, Takumi Minamino, Kostas Tsimikas and Neco Williams.

Newcastle have Martin Dubravka in goal behind a back four of Javi Manquillo, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Jamal Lewis.

Ryan Fraser and Jacob Murphy are on the flanks, with Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden in the middle of the park.

Callum Wilson is surprisingly left on the bench as Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin lead the line up top.

Wilson is joined on the bench by Karl Darlow, Ciaran Clark, Matt Ritchie, Jeff Hendrick, Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock, Dwight Gayle and Sean Longstaff.