Eddie Howe sticks to a one-game-at-a-time approach at Newcastle United, but his lineup for the Bayer Leverkusen match has to take the upcoming trip to Sunderland into account.
Newcastle’s packed schedule sends them to Germany for a Champions League clash with Leverkusen before they head to Wearside for the first Premier League Tyne-Wear derby since 2016. With bragging rights on the line, the derby looms large.
For now, Leverkusen is the priority, but Howe needs to adjust his starting XI if he wants his side in the best possible shape for Sunderland.
Newcastle should tweak their setup to protect Tino Livramento
Newcastle look a different team with Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall available again. Their return to fitness has aligned with an upturn in form, and both have been outstanding.
But given they are just back from injury, Howe has to manage their minutes carefully — something he has already done recently. Hall was rested against Marseille and Burnley, and now it’s Livramento’s turn. The Leverkusen match offers the ideal opportunity to give the 23-year-old a breather.
To do that, Howe will need to change shape. Injuries to Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth mean there is no natural right-back cover, so Livramento cannot simply be swapped out. A back five would allow Jacob Murphy to operate at wing-back — a role he has performed well before — and he should be fresh after missing the 2-1 win over Burnley.
This approach would also let Howe bring Livramento on later in the game at left-back to ease Hall’s workload.
A reminder of why Newcastle need a full-back in January
Newcastle’s current situation underlines why the January window is crucial. The club are expected to target a full-back, and the reasons are obvious.
Ideally, they need a left-back; Hall’s only real backup is Dan Burn, who has struggled when used there. But reinforcements are also needed on the right. Trippier is 35 and in the final year of his deal, while Krafth’s contract ends in 2026.