Liverpool will be hoping to lay down a marker against Newcastle United on Wednesday — not only to Arsenal, but also to Eddie Howe's side, ahead of a re-run of this fixture at Wembley next month.

But he would be the first to demand that complacency does not set in, with the 11-point advantage inflated by Arsenal's game in hand.

And there is certainly some extra motivation for getting one over on Newcastle, with the Carabao Cup final looming.



But Howe confirmed that a number of absent players are now nearing a return, potentially even in time for the trip to Anfield.

Newcastle could be missing 3 three players for Liverpool as Eddie Howe gives 'close' update	Eddie Howe issues injury update on 3 players as Newcastle could get boost for Liverpool game	Eddie Howe confirms two key Newcastle players could return vs Liverpool

“Sven’s improving and he’s improving quickly, so we’ll see whether he makes it," Howe said of Sven Botman, who has been missing for the last four league games since only managing 45 minutes against Bournemouth.

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Sven Botman of Newcastle United.

But Howe grouped him in with Botman as a player who could still feature against Liverpool:

“Again with Joe, it is similar to Sven he is really improving and doing really well and pushing

Sandro Tonali was only fit to feature off the bench against Nottingham Forest, but Howe has confirmed that he came through his cameo without any ill effects.

So it could be almost full-strength Liverpool and Newcastle sides that do battle tomorrow, albeit at the end of a brutal run of highly condensed fixtures
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