Good evening everyone! It's been another massive weekend of action in the Premier League and we're not finished yet. There's still a big game to go at Anfield tonight as Liverpool try to revive their fading Champions League aspirations against struggling Newcastle United.

Just three weeks ago Liverpool were flying high and they had racked up an impressive 13-game unbeaten league run. That came to an end with a defeat against Manchester United and another loss against Arsenal last weekend has seen their hopes of finishing inside the top four severely damaged.

Anfield's ready... #LFC pic.twitter.com/e6S8tySlAe

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 13, 2015

Making the trip to Anfield this evening are a Newcastle side in desperately poor form. They have lost their last four games and confidence could hardly be lower. The Magpies seem to have enough points to avoid the drop, but at this stage it looks as if they will just about limp their way to safety. Right, we've got a lot more to discuss between now and kick off, but first let's check out the team news which has just filtered through.

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet, Johnson, Can, Lovren, Moreno, Allen, Lucas, Henderson, Ibe, Coutinho, Sterling

NEWCASTLE XI: Krul, Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback, Anita, Abeid, Sissoko, Cabella, Obertan, Perez

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Borini, Brannagan, Markovic

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Sterry, Gouffran, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Armstong, Riviere

So, that's how our teams will be lining up this evening. Daniel Sturridge is ruled out for Liverpool, but Jordan Ibe returns following six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury. Emre Can is also back in the starting lineup, with Mamadou Sakho ruled out, but Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard are still suspended.

Newcastle have made three changes from their derby defeat last week, as Mehdi Abeid, Vurnon Anita and Gabriel Obertan are all handed starts. Daryl Janmaat has shaken off a calf problem to play, while 19-year-old Jamie Sterry could make his debut for the club after being named among the substitutes.

Let's get back to our build up for tonight's game and I'm sure that Liverpool fans will need little reminding about how close their team came to landing the Premier League last season. In fact, on this very day last year they had beaten Manchester City to go five points clear at the top of the table.

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Of course they came up short in the end, but with seven games to go this season they are a world away from league leaders Chelsea. Instead of challenging for the title, they are in a scrap for European places and only a perfect end to the campaign will give them any chance of getting into the top four.

They had actually gone into their meeting with Manchester United before the international break with a real chance of closing the gap on the Red Devils, but an uncharacteristically poor display and a quick red card for Steven Gerrard saw them fall to a 2-1 defeat.

The Reds would have been looking for a quick response in their next game against Arsenal, but they were blown apart by the Gunners and lost 4-1 at the Emirates. Following this weekends results they are now seven points away from fourth spot, but with Manchester City in such poor form, they will still feel that they can overtake them by the end of May.

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It's not all doom and gloom for the Reds as they booked their place in the last four of the FA Cup by beating Blackburn in their quarter-final replay last week. They will face Aston Villa for a place in the final this weekend so a confidence boost today would certainly come in handy.

While Liverpool are aiming for the top four, any chance Newcastle had of qualifying for Europe ended months ago and they must be wishing that this season was already over. The Magpies have been on a dreadful run of form since Alan Pardew left and they come into tonight's match having lost four games on the bounce.

6 - Newcastle have lost each of their last six PL games in April, a run that started with a 6-0 defeat to Liverpool in 2013. Cruel. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 13, 2015

The last of those defeats will have hurt the most, as they were beaten by fierce rivals Sunderland. An absolute screamer from Jermain Defoe gave the Black Cats the three points and ensured another miserable afternoon for John Carver and his side.

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Newcastle have only won twice in Carver's 12 games in charge and it's looking an increasing likelihood that his contract won't be extended beyond the summer. It was always going to be a tough job for him to take over a club riddled with so many problems and he can hardly take all the blame for their troubles.

Indeed the supporters are more furious with chairman Mike Ashley for the way that he has been running the club. It has even led to fans planning to boycott this weekend's meeting with Tottenham and demonstrations are also set to take place before and after the match.

Earlier this season it was Newcastle who claimed the points when the teams met at St James' Park. Ayoze Perez scored the only goal as the Magpies extended their winning run at the time to three games. That streak ended with five successive wins that lifted them up as high as fourth place before their decline started.

These two teams are well renowned for producing entertaining games over the years and Liverpool's 4-3 win in 1996 is regarded by many as the best in Premier League history. It makes it all the more surprising that there was just one goal in this season's reverse fixture, with high-scoring contests a regular occurrence.

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PREDICTION: It's hard to see anything other than a victory for Liverpool today, even after their recent defeats. They still have a chance of sneaking into the top four and are more than capable of stringing a run of wins together. Newcastle are also in need of a result following their defeat at Sunderland, but they have been playing so poorly, which is why I'm going to tip the Reds to earn a 3-1 win.

With just five minutes to go until kick off at Anfield, why don't you have a quick look at our video preview for tonight's match.

There is going to be a minute's silence before the start of the match in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

KICKOFF! We are underway at Anfield!

Nothing too much to report in the early moments of this match, with both teams still finding their feet. It's Liverpool though who are seeing the majority of the ball, but they are yet to really trouble the Newcastle defence.

Over the past couple of minutes the visitors have enjoyed a decent spell in the game, with Cabella seeing a strike from the edge of the box deflect behind. They are unable to make anything of the resulting corner, but there have been some promising signs for Carver's side here.

It hasn't taken Liverpool long to break the deadlock and it's the much talked about Sterling who opens his account for the evening. The England international is picked out by Henderson's brilliant ball towards the left and after a wonderful first touch, he ghosts past two Newcastle defenders before curling a superb strike into the far corner.

SAVE! That goal has really settled Liverpool down and they are quickly on the search for a second. Moreno almost gets in on the action when he latches onto Lovren's ball over the top and fires in a low strike that is parried by Krul at his near post.

The Reds are playing some great stuff at the moment and following a flowing team move, Coutinho sees his long-range effort head straight into the gloves of the keeper. They look well up for this tonight and I would not be surprised to see them hammer a few more goals past Newcastle, who just have not got started.

Newcastle are allowing their opponents so much time and space in the midfield and they look like getting punished every time the Reds come forward. They have already paid the price for backing off Sterling, while others like Coutinho are starting to get into some very promising areas.

CHANCE! I just spoke about the impact Coutinho was having on the game and he shows wonderful skill to take the ball past Williamson and finds himself through down the right-hand side of the box. He has Sterling at the back post, but he opts to flash a low strike across goal that ends up heading just wide.

SHOT! Once again Coutinho finds acres of space in the Newcastle half and he threads a brilliant ball through to Sterling. The winger is at a tight angle, but he goes for goal with a first-time strike that is hit straight down the centre and easily held by Krul.

CHANCES! Liverpool are utterly dominant at the moment and soon after Coutinho sees a shot blocked following a well-worked free kick, does Sterling curl in a strike from the edge of the box that is saved by Krul.

CHANCE! For all of Liverpool's great play, they are still only one goal ahead and Newcastle threaten to level the scores when Abeid meets a clearance just outside the box and fires in a volley. He doesn't get enough power on the strike and it heads comfortably through to Mignolet, but that should serve as a warning to the Reds.

Coutinho has been simply brilliant this evening and they Brazilian almost frees Ibe with a pass that is just too strong for the 19-year-old. It's no wonder that he is being considered by many as one of the player's of the season, as he is involved in so much of the home side's best moves.

What an amazing save. Lucas meets a free kick from Henderson and powers in a firm header that looks set to find the bottom corner, but Krul sticks out a hand to keep it out. The flag had actually been raised against the Brazilian so it wouldn't of counted, but that was sensational from the Newcastle keeper.

PENALTY APPEAL! I think that Liverpool have got away with one here. Following a Newcastle free kick, the ball drops to Ayoze inside the box and he takes a touch past Lovren before going down under a challenge from the defender. However, it was not given by the referee, who waves away the visitors' protests.

SHOT! Down the other end of the pitch Liverpool almost make their opponents pay as Ibe is found just inside the box. He is forced slightly wide and doesn't have too many options so he decides to shoot, but his effort flies well of the target.

Newcastle are ending the half strongly and they are finally seeing a decent amount of the ball. They are getting into some promising areas down the flanks and Ayoze is looking dangerous.

SAVE! We've already seen a fine stop from Krul and at the other end of the pitch Mignolet produces a great save of his own. Janmaat whips a teasing cross into the box and Ayoze directs a header towards the top corner that is tipped over at full stretch by the keeper.

SHOT! The visitors create another decent chance before the break as Abeid is found just inside the box and curls a first-time shot over the bar. They've been outplayed for most of the half, but they've certainly had the chances to draw level.

A very good first half of football at Anfield has ended with Liverpool in the lead against Newcastle. Raheem Sterling's superb goal is all that separates the teams and as it stands, the Reds will be moving back up to fifth spot.

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Liverpool were very much in charge of the first half and they dominated the possession, seeing 57% of the ball. Their six attempts on goal have only been two more than Newcastle have managed and despite their dominance, they could still be made to pay for not really punishing their opponents.

As I've mentioned, Liverpool haven't taken full advantage tonight which will give Newcastle plenty of confidence going into the second half. I know some of you are planning on getting stuck into the new episode of Games of Thrones, but I'd recommend staying with us as I think we could see at least a goal or two in the next 45 minutes.

Right, the teams are back out on the pitch and the second half will be getting started shortly.

Liverpool take the kick off and get us back underway at Anfield!

This has been a good start to the second half by Newcastle who force an early corner. The delivery isn't great, but it comes all the way through to Ayoze, who lofts a cross back into the middle that Obertan heads wide.

The Reds may have a bit of problem here, as during the Newcastle corner, Can went down awkwardly inside the box. He has just gone over to the sidelines to receive some treatment, but I would imagine that he will be fine to continue.

SHOT! The visitors are looking the much better side at the moment and they have put the Reds defence under plenty of pressure since the break. Sissoko has been dangerous down the left wing and after cutting inside he drills in a low effort that is easily saved by Mignolet.

MISS! What a huge miss this is by Sterling. He finds himself completely unmarked inside the box after Henderson's cross is not dealt with by Taylor. With the goal gaping it looks like a simple finish, but somehow he places the ball wide of the target.

SUBSTITUTION: Liverpool are going to make their first change of the match, with former Sunderland man Borini coming on for Ibe.

For the first 10 minutes of this half Liverpool had really gone off the boil, but they are starting to re-establish their grip on the match. You still wouldn't rule out Newcastle grabbing a goal and that miss from Sterling could prove crucial by the end of the night.

This is really good from the hosts at the moment, who are working the ball around impressively between their midfield. Their decision making in the final third has just left them down slightly and they have missed a real striker like Sturridge leading the attack.

SUBSTITUTION: Gutierrez receives a round of applause from the whole of Anfield as he comes on to replace Obertan. It's great to see him playing again and lovely to see that kind of reaction from the Liverpool supporters.

Liverpool are surely on their way to the three points now as they double their lead with a rare strike from Allen. The midfielder's initial attempt inside the box is blocked, but he was quick to react and fires the rebound into the roof of the net.

CHANCE! It's almost three for the Reds, as Lovren rises above Williamson to meet Coutinho's corner, before thumping a header narrowly over the bar.

SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle make their second change, with Armstrong coming on for Abeid.

YELLOW CARDS! Johnson and Sissoko are both booked after clashing on the touchline. It seemed to be about whether the ball had gone out of play for a throw in and was all rather unnecessary.

Newcastle are really struggling at the moment and a fifth defeat in a row is just a few minutes away from being confirmed. They did enjoy good spells at the end of the first half and the start of the second, but apart from that they have been thoroughly outplayed.

RED CARD TO NEWCASTLE! Things go from bad to worse for Newacstle, as Sissoko is sent off for a stamp on Lucas. It was a second bookable offence, but it could of easily been a straight red card.

CHANCE! Sterling may have scored the crucial opening goal this evening, but he has missed a couple of sitters. This time he makes a great run into the box to meet Henderson's free kick before turning the ball over the bar from just a few yards out.

SUBSTITUTION: Final change for the visitors, as Gouffran comes on for Ayoze.

SUBSTITUTION: Liverpool are bringing on Lambert for the final minutes of the game in place of Sterling.

YELLOW CARD! Moreno picks up a booking for a foul on Gutierrez.

There are going to be four minutes of stoppage time.

SHOT! Taylor has a late chance to pull a goal back for the Magpies with a free kick from just outside the box. He looks to curl a strike into the top corner, but he gets too much on the ball and sends it into the stands.

It's all over at Anfield and Liverpool have claimed the points this evening. Goals from Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen have moved them to within four points of Manchester City in the table, to boost their hopes of finishing inside the top four. As for Newacstle, it's five defeats in a row, as their miserable end to the season continues.

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That just about does it for our coverage here this evening. I'll be back to bring you analysis and player ratings in a short while. Until then, goodbye!