Newcastle vs Southampton
Venue: St James’ Park
Kick off: 4PM
Newcastle and Southampton meet in a vital relegation scrap at St James’ Park this afternoon.
Rafael Benitez’s side start the weekend in 16th, just one place and a single point above their opponents, and know that victory could prove invaluable to their cause.
And the Newcastle boss has told his players to approach each of their remaining nine games as cup finals as they attempt to secure their Premier League status.
He said: “Every game is important. This is the most important because it is the next one, but we have to keep going to the end. We will be trying to win, but we will be doing that until the last one. Every game is a final for us now.”
Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino, who has played for and worked under Benitez, insists his players are well aware they are in a relegation scrap and believes they are up to the task of securing their survival.
He said: “It is difficult to talk to the fans and say we are getting better because since January the team lifted performances, but now we need results. That is the reality.
“As a manager I have to think about what to do. We need results but the consequence is what we do on the pitch.”
Newcastle are winless in their last seven Premier League meetings with Southampton since a 4-2 win in February 2013.
Saints have only failed to score in one of their last 19 Premier League games against Newcastle, netting in each of the last 12.
Newcastle possible XI: Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett, Shelvey, Diame, Ritchie, Perez, Kenedy, Gayle.
Southampton possible XI: McCarthy, Soares, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand, Romeu, Lemina, Ward-Prowse, Sims, Carrillo, Tadic.