Rafael Benitez has made big changes to his side to face Newcastle this afternoon, and the impressive Steve Finnan is one of those missing. Irish international Finnan is not even in the 16, along with Fernando Morientes. We now have to wait until kick-off to see whether Rafa is going to play Carragher at right-back, or whether he’s decided instead to go with three centre-backs and two wing-backs. Kromkamp and Warnock are both as comfortable in midfield as defence. Peter Crouch and Djibril Cisse start the game. Alonso is kept back on the bench with Robbie Fowler.
Newcastle: S Given, P Ramage, J Boumsong, R Elliott, C Babayaro, N Solano, S Parker, B Emre, C N’Zogbia, A Shearer, S Ameobi
Subs: S Harper, K Dyer, L Bowyer, C Moore, L Clark
Liverpool: J Reina, D Agger, S Hyypia, J Carragher, S Warnock, J Kromkamp, D Hamann, S Gerrard, H Kewell, D Cisse, P Crouch
Subs: J Dudek, S Luis Garcia, R Fowler, X Alonso, D Traore
Referee: M Riley