As Newcastle United try and cement their position in the Premier League's top four for the first time since 2003, it seems as though everything could be going their way.
Recent injuries to key players like Rodrigo Bentancur and Hugo Lloris at Tottenham Hotspur have seen them struggle in recent weeks and with the Magpies having a game in hand over Spurs, they could increase their gap to fifth to five points.
However, many believe that it's not Antonio Conte's side that Eddie Howe should be worried about, and instead should be focused on delivering a knockout blow to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool this weekend.
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The Reds have not looked their usual confident selves this season, languishing down in the bottom-half of the top-half of the table almost all season, with their current position ninth being the position they've ended a game week in most (seven).
The highest point they've been at this season has been fifth, but that was all the way back in Round Five after back-to-back wins including a 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth which saw Scott Parker given the sack. But despite their 2-0 win over struggling Everton on Monday night, Klopp's side are still nine points behind the Magpies and are another team Howe's bunch have a game in hand over.
That means that if Newcastle are able to win this weekend, and win their game in hand, the gap to fourth will stretch to 15 points and what is almost an unassailable lead.
In fact, no team has ever made the top four from this point in the season from so far back and over the last ten years, only two teams have made it from outside the top six after 23 matches (Spurs finished fourth from eighth in 2021/22 and Manchester United finished fourth from seventh in 2019/20).
As Howe's side gear up for a Carabao Cup Final next weekend against Erik ten Hag's side, the Magpies use this fixture to send a serious message to their opponents in the near future.
This weekend's clash might not seem to be the most vital for Newcastle's season on the surface but if they really want to put down any of Liverpool's hope for a Champions League spot next season, this would be the way to do it.
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