Newcastle United

Last-five form: W W L W W

Newcastle have won four of the last five. The team ranks top five in the league for shots-on-target per match (5.8) and bottom six for xG conceded (1.32). Set-piece goals have powered 27% of the team's output - the league's highest share.

Squad watch

The 4-3-3 holds. Bruno Guimaraes is the single pivot; Joelinton and Sandro Tonali rotate the eight slots. Alexander Isak leads the line with a 0.68 xGI per 90; his shot map from the left half-space is the team's leading trend.

Anthony Gordon has moved to the left flank with Miguel Almiron on the right; Harvey Barnes is the impact-sub option off the bench. The wide centre-back press cue - Kieran Trippier - remains the build-up anchor.

Next three fixtures

vs Manchester City (home), vs PSG (away, Champions League), vs Tottenham (away). The PSG away leg is the swing - the press trigger against a back-three build-up differs from the Premier League baseline.

Depth chart

GK: Pope. Back four: Trippier-Schär-Botman-Burn. Midfield: Bruno-Tonali-Joelinton. Front three: Almiron-Isak-Gordon. Bench: Barnes, Wilson, Longstaff.

Editor's note

The ceiling is when Trippier steps into midfield and the half-spaces open for Joelinton. The floor is when the centre-backs get pulled wide and the second balls fall to the opposing eight. The bench is thin on Premier League-quality back-up for Isak; January will look at that role.