Liverpool (a)

Nobody expects us to get anything at Anfield. If we win and Hull lose it's all back in our hands. If we lose and Hull lose then nothing's changed and we go back to needing maximum points from our home games and trust that Hull will do less than us, sparing us the final day jitters.

Unfortunately this is the Geordie way. The dream factory that is NUFC makes every supporter look at the fixture, then look at the league table and wonder 'what if'? Can we get a result and Anfield to relieve the pressure?

This is the curse of being a Magpie.

Alan Shearer takes a depleted squad to Anfield and the build up in the media suggests that MO will be dropped. We're not surprised. Big Al is single minded enough to do what he thinks is right. Friendship or not, we'd expect Owen to be dropped. Viduka and Martins both look more potent and we might as well get used to life without the club captain who no doubt will fly the nest come the close season. Jonas appears not to be fit enough for the starting line up so Alan put's his faith in Barton to be the creative force we've been missing in midfield. Edgar stakes a claim for left back but if we play 4 - 3 - 3 then it's likely to be Duff.

As famously said in Airplane the movie... 'Good luck. We're all counting on you'.