Newcastle United and Liverpool have met 148 times in the league. Newcastle United have won 40, Liverpool 71 and there have been 37 draws. They have met 32 times in the Premier League. Newcastle United have won seven, Liverpool 19 and there have been six draws.

Torres is caught in possession and Newcastle play a through ball into the path of Andy Carroll... the big striker just can't get a touch on the pass as it runs past him.

Simpson heads away but Liverpool keep the ball. The ball comes back in for Kyrgiakos to strike... Tim Krul palms the shot away!

Glen Johnson is fortunate to win a free-kick off Jose Enrique on the right wing. Meireles will send this into the box...

Ruud Gullit also previously began his career as Newcastle manager with a home match against Liverpool – his team losing 4-1 in August 1998.

Sol Campbell is caught high up the pitch and misplaces a pass. raul Meirelees plays the ball right into the gap left by Campbell for Fernando Torres, who is offside.

Liverpool doing a good job is keeping possession in the early stages. usually that tactic is designed to quieten the crowd, but on this unique occasion it's encouraging them to sing.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos does well to concede a throw rather than a corner under pressure from Shola Ameobi. The Newcastle striker is then caught offside as the home side build another attack.

"Get out of our club" is the chant from a section of the Newcastle fans.

Maxi Rodriguez scampers forward through the middle and fires a shot from long distance into the crowd. An early sighter for the Argentine, who has two goals in his last three games.

Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez make good progress down the left-hand side before Liverpool win the ball back.

Liverpool kick off and we're underway!

The players are walking out on to the pitch now. What's so intriguing about this match is that anything could happen. Such is the inconsistent nature of this Newcastle team, if they were to win, would you be that surprised? We'll be underway shortly.

Pardew pre-match interview on potential hostile reception: "I know I can do my job, and I'm good at it. I want to give this city a football team it can be proud of."

The last four Newcastle managers – Kevin Keegan, Joe Kinnear, Alan Shearer and Chris Hughton - all failed to win their first match in charge of the club. The last manager to win his opening match in charge was Sam Allardyce in August 2008.

There have been plenty of Newcastle fans protesting against the appointment of Pardew - and owner Mike Ashley - outside the ground in the run-up to this match. The new boss could well face a few boos as he enters his new dugout for the first time.

Both teams have fallen in the table following the 3pm games - here's how the Premier League stands at the moment.

Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, has demanded no resting on laurels after three decent performances from his Liverpool side.

Pardew has already been linked with a move for coach Wally Downes, who has won plaudits for helping to turn West Ham's form around - and Hammers boss Avram Grant says he won't stop Downes if he wants to go.

It's been a quiet old week for Newcastle, hasn't it? They absurdly ditched Chris Hughton, then made the not-universally-popular appointment of Alan Pardew. The new man was impressive in his introductory press conference on Thursday, and fancies a piece of Liverpool.

NEWCASTLE: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi... Subs: Harper, Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Smith, Ranger... LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky, Kuyt, Meireles, Lucas, Maxi, Torres, Ngog... Subs: Jones, Aurelio, Cole, Jovanovic, Babel, Poulsen, Kelly... Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Liverpool have no win in their last three Premier League away matches, losing the last two. If they lose today it will be the first time in 14 months they have lost three in a row away from home. Three of their last four Premier League victories have included a goal by Maxi Rodriguez. Either Maxi or Fernando Torres have scored in their six league wins this season. They last won without either of them scoring with a 3-0 home victory against West Ham on April 19.