Rafa Benitez leaves Newcastle pair Gini Wijnaldum and Jonjo Shelvey on Anfield bench

Rafa Benitez has named an unchanged Newcastle United side for this afternoon's game against Liverpool.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Apr 2016, 13:33 BST

Updated 23rd Apr 2016, 14:38 BST

Benitez's second-bottom side are two points adrift of Premier League safety with four games left to play.

And a win at Anfield (3pm kick-off) would see them climb out of the relegation zone.

Benitez has opted against recalls for Georginio Wijnaldum, Jonjo Shelvey and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who are all on the bench.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho is not involved because of an "anti-doping violation".

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow; Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Tiote, Colback; Townsend, Sissoko, Perez; Cisse. Subs: Woodman, Mbabu, Shelvey, Wijnaldum, Aarons, de Jong, Mitrovic.

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Randall, Toure, Lovren, Moreno, Stewart, Allen, Milner, Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge. Subs: Ward, Skrtel, Smith, Lucas, Coutinho, Ibe, Ojo.