With just a point separating the two sides, Liverpool take on Newcastle United at Anfield on Friday, knowing the importance of a win.
After six games without victory, Newcastle beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium on Monday.
Alan Pardew's men had only taken two points from their previous six games, before Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba scored in the second half to topple Bolton and get within a point of sixth-placed Liverpool on the English Premier League table.
Ben Arfa came off the bench after recovering from an ankle injury to score only his second goal for Newcastle since his debut against Everton in September 2010, and the winger is keen for more against Liverpool.
"I just hope that the goals are going to come one after another now," Ben Arfa told the club's website.
"The atmosphere at Anfield is very special but the most important thing will not be the ground - it will be the three points."
With Davide Santon out after suffering a knee injury against West Bromwich Albion, Ryan Taylor returned to the starting line-up and is expected to start against Liverpool.
Ba brought his league goal tally to 13 goals in 16 games against Bolton, and is looking for a win against a Liverpool side which have drawn six games at home so far and won only three.
"It was a very important win because six games without a win is a long time. Now we have to make sure that next Friday (at Liverpool), we get something too," Ba said.
Liverpool once again dropped points against a lower side in their 1-1 draw against last-placed Blackburn Rovers on Monday - their second-straight draw after their goalless stalemate at Wigan last Wednesday.
Luis Suarez, Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt scored the three goals in Liverpool’s 3-0 win last season at Anfield against Newcastle.
Rodriguez scored Liverpool's equalizer against Blackburn - his 11th goal in his last 12 starts - Kenny Dalglish will be hoping that the Argentine will continue to link up well with striker Luis Suarez, who is still stuck on five league goals for the Reds.
Captain Steven Gerrard finally returned from an ankle injury in the second half against Blackburn, but his lack of match fitness failed to lift the Reds, who have scored just 21 goals this season - four less than Newcastle.
Liverpool have dropped points at home against Swansea City, Sunderland and Norwich City and Dalglish will hope that Gerrard can raise his game against a Newcastle side looking to overhaul their opponents on the table.
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