Lifted by Saturday’s big win over Man City, Newcastle are back in Champions League action tonight and hoping to make it four straight victories.
We’ve beaten Union SG, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao in our last three, sending us sixth in the league phase and in with a great chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Next up is a Marseille side currently placed 25th out of 36 after three defeats in four, but they’ve been superb in Ligue 1 this season, momentarily going top of the league on Friday after a 5-1 win at Nice.
Eddie Howe has to use his squad to cope with the schedule over the coming weeks and has already hinted at doing so, meaning rotation feels likely tonight.
With that in mind, I think we’ll see Botman, Burn, Ramsey, Elanga and Gordon come into the side, meaning Schar, Hall, Joelinton, Murphy and Woltemade drop to the bench.
Predicted XI: (4-3-3): Pope – Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
It may seem odd to go without Woltemade, but Gordon is back and big Nick’s minutes may need to be managed as we head into a hectic run of games with no Wissa or Osula to call on.
It could also be a game suited towards Elanga’s pace on the counter, allowing us to save Murphy for Everton, while one change in midfield feels likely, with options down that left to replace Joelinton.
At full-back, I can’t see Hall starting three times in seven days and it feels vital that he plays at Everton, so I’ll go for Burn at left-back and Livramento at right-back, although I would not be surprised if Tino plays down the left, with Krafth or Thiaw able to fill in down the other flank.
At centre-back, Thiaw feels too good to drop right now, so Botman could come back in alongside the German after starting each of our last three UCL games; where we’ve won each one to nil with Burn at left-back.
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