Isaac Hayden
Many will believe that Mikel Merino is the ideal candidate to fill the breach created by Jonjo Shelvey’s absence and partner Mohamed Diame at the heart of Newcastle’s midfield.
But with Shelvey facing more tests to determine the severity of the injury to his knee and how long it will keep him out, Benitez may opt to protect Merino from potentially aggravating a back injury that has curtailed his impressive early season form and reduced the him to a bit-part role in recent months by saving the Spaniard for the crunch game with Southampton.
Instead, the United boss could opt to start with a more defensive-minded midfielder in Isaac Hayden in order to stifle Liverpool and cut off the supply line to the Reds’ fab three – Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Hayden has struggled to break up the Diame-Shelvey axis that has become Benitez’s first choice partnership in 2018, but his ability to protect the back four and break up attacks could be important in a game where Newcastle are expected to defend for extended periods.
There’s a slight risk that Hayden will be slightly rusty after making just two starts in the last eight matches, but there will be no doubts about his fitness, unlike Merino, and his ability to handle to physical and mental demands required to repel a relentless Liverpool attack.
