'Tough game': Paul Merson now predicts who will win on Wednesday night - Newcastle United or Liverpool

Newcastle United host Liverpool at St James' Park on Wednesday night in a 7:30pm kick-off live on Amazon Prime.

Liverpool are flying high after opening up a nine-point gap at the top of the Premier League with a convincing win over struggling Manchester City on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Newcastle limped to a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park to 19th-placed Crystal Palace somehow amassing zero shots on target in the entire game and only one attempt overall.

It was a pitiful display and in a way this game coming around so quickly might be a blessing as it gives the lads a chance to move on from that display quickly.

There's no real surprise which way Paul Merson is leaning

At least that's how we would be feeling if we weren't coming up against the league's most in-form side. It's no surprise then, that Paul Merson has Newcastle leaving St James' Park empty-handed in his prediction for Sportskeeda.

"The whole of the Premier League would have been looking at these three fixtures for Liverpool - Manchester City at home, Newcastle away and then Everton away. They've already brushed aside City and if they go on and win the next two matches as well, it could be over for everyone else hoping to catch them!

"Liverpool absolutely destroyed Manchester City. It was bordering on embarrassing at times. This is a tough game away at Newcastle, but imagine the scenes if they win. Real Madrid, Manchester City and Newcastle beaten in the space of a week. Simply wow, not many teams can do that.

"Dominik Szoboszlai was excellent in midfield against City and it just shows how confident all the Liverpool players are at the moment. He came into the line-up and looked like he belonged there. I said it the other day and I keep on saying it, no matter who plays up top with Salah, you can always bet on Liverpool to score. You can't say that with the other teams, that's a huge advantage for Liverpool.

"Prediction: Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool"

Impossible is nothing

Reading Merson's blurb there you'd almost forget that Newcastle were involved at all, but as my Nana always said, if you've got nothing nice to say, then say nothing at all, so we appreciate Merson for that at least.

I don't expect anybody is giving us much of a chance on Wednesday night, Newcastle fans included, but stranger things have happened.

As long as the Toon Army turn up in good voice there's always a chance. HOWAY THE LADS!