When the televised games were announced this seemed a banker as a tense, tea-time, six pointer but things move fast at the foot of the table and the real fear of falling into the Championship resides in Brighton and Cardiff. No matter; neither Newcastle or Southampton are mathematically safe yet and Tyneside remains reluctantly gripped by the season’s enduring, thoroughly uncertain subplot. It centres on whether Rafael Benítez will stay or go this summer and no one knows the answer. Louise Taylor
Saturday 5.30pm BT Sport 1
Venue St James’ Park
Last season Newcastle 3 Southampton 0
Referee Anthony Taylor
This season G28 Y90 R1 3.25 cards/game
Odds H 17-11 A 9-4 D 9-4
NEWCASTLE
Subs from Darlow, Fernández, Manquillo, Clark, Diamé, Shelvey, Kenedy, Atsu, Muto, Joselu
Doubtful None
Injured Longstaff (knee, Aug), Lejeune (knee, Oct)
Suspended None
Discipline Y53 R2
Form LWDLLW
Leading scorer Rondón 9
SOUTHAMPTON
Subs from Forster, McCarthy, Elyounoussi, Jones, Davis, Lewis, Gallagher, Slattery, Ramsay, Johnson, Barnes, Targett, Austin, Armstrong, Romeu
Doubtful Vestergaard (groin)
Injured Lemina (abdominal, 27 Apr), Obafemi (hamstring, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y66 R1
Form WLWWLW
Leading scorer Ings 7