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Hello and welcome to live coverage of Liverpool v Newcastle at Anfield. It’s a Premier League game whose context is provided almost exclusively by the Champions League. It’s the most moreish competition in world football, so you can understand why these teams are desperate for more – both this season and next.

Liverpool and Newcastle finished third and twelfth in the league stage of Europe’s big competition – yet they are currently only the sixth and tenth best teams in England, which means a dogfight to qualify for another crack in 2026-27. Perhaps Snakes and Ladders is a better metaphor: Newcastle will jump four places and go above Liverpool if they win tonight.

There’s a fair way to go in the Premier League season, 14 games apiece after tonight, so it’s not a must-win game. But it’s a pretty important one.

Kick off 8pm.