Newcastle to assess walking wounded while boss confirms Emil Krafth ACL injury

The Magpies battled their way from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Wolves on Sunday thanks to Allan St Maximin’s stunning volley just before stoppage time but are now looking anxiously at the fitness of their squad after a physical encounter with Bruno Large’s side.

Bruno Guimaraes was ruled out before the game through injury while Callum Wilson continues to recover from a hamstring problem. But the worry for Newcastle is that a number of players are carrying knocks from the game in the Midlands that will need to be assessed before the trip to Anfield.

Howe said: “We’re counting the cost of a spell where we are getting some rough luck with injuries. I think the lads are giving so much, and exerting so much in the games that we are feeling the effects of that.

“Certainly today, I felt the lads emptied their tank today. You could see Maxi was running back to try and stop them scoring 2-0, he was one of the players on the goal line. Ryan Fraser was fouled in the build up. At the other end, he’s breaking a counter to try and score so great effort from the players but we’ve picked up a couple of injuries. I don’t know how bad they are.”

While there are unanswered questions on some members of his squad, there is clarity on the timescale of Emile Krafth’s recovery after he was badly injured last Wednesday. The Swedish full-back, who was forced off on a stretcher during last week’s win over Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup, will spend months on the sideline after suffering a long-term knee injury.

It is likely to rule him out for the Swedish national team’s winter World Cup campaign in Qatar.

“It’s a massive blow for us” continued Howe. “Emile has been superb for us ever since I came through the football club in all sorts of ways. On the pitch and off the pitch. Brilliant guy. We are all really feeling for him at the moment. It’s an ACL injury so he’ll be out for a number of months.”

Elsewhere, Wilson, who has two goals to his name in the Premier League this season, is not too far away from a return to action but he will not be playing against Jurgen Klopp’s side on Wednesday evening. The Newcastle boss added: “Callum will be working away to get back to fitness again. It’s not a long term injury, I don’t think it is going to be too bad so hopefully we will be able to get him back quickly. I don’t think he will be fit for Liverpool.”

In the absence of Wilson, the club are hopeful that Alexander Isak will be available for selection for the game. Following confirmation of record breaking move from Real Socieded on Friday, the club did not receive a work permit in time for him to feature against Wolves at Molineux and watched the game from the stands.

The potential absence of a number of players made provide an opportunity for teenage midfielder Elliot Anderson who came on and impressed the coaching staff with his display on Sunday. It looks increasingly likely that the 19-year-old will not be heading out on loan before the end of the transfer window.

“A really good performance from Elliot. I think he has been waiting for that window of opportunity. Today it was there” said Howe.

“We were chasing the game and I was delighted to give him that moment. I think he did very well. He was very good in the pockets and made a creative difference for us. He is a player with a very bright future.”

Liverpool go into the game having demolished Premier League new boys Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield which was their first Premier League win of the season.