Dirk Kuyt is hoping to continue his impressive scoring record against Newcastle United when the Reds visit St James' Park on Sunday.

The Dutch international scored his first Liverpool goal against the Magpies at Anfield in September 2006. He has since netted five goals for the Reds in nine appearances against United.

Here are the facts and figures ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash from club statto Ged Rea.

Head to head (league only):

At Newcastle: Liverpool 22 wins, Newcastle 30 wins, 23 draws.

Overall: Liverpool 73 wins, Newcastle 41 wins, 37 draws.

In the Reds last fixture of 2011, Liverpool beat Newcastle 3-1 at Anfield with two goals from Craig Bellamy and one from Steven Gerrard. This after the Geordies had taken the lead through a Daniel Agger own goal.

In the last meeting on this ground in December 2010, Newcastle won 3-1. Kevin Nolan scored in the first half with Dirk Kuyt equalising on 50 minutes. The game was settled by late goals from Joey Barton and Andy Carroll.

In the last 11 meetings home and away the Reds have won nine and lost twice.

Liverpool's biggest ever win at St James' Park came in December 2008 when they won 5-1. Steven Gerrard was on target twice. Eleven of the 18-man squad that day are no longer at Anfield.

On the last five occasions Liverpool have faced the Magpies in the north east they have scored 13 goals in total.

Liverpool have won 21 and lost eight of the 35 Premier League meetings between the sides.

They have kept just two clean sheets in their last 19 league visits - in November 2007 and September 2001.

In six of the Reds' last eight wins over Newcastle when he has started, Steven Gerrard has scored. The skipper now has seven goals in total against Sunday's opponents. Only Michael Owen with 13 has netted more against the Geordies than Gerrard for Liverpool in the Premier League.

There has not been a goalless draw in the last 53 meetings between the teams - a run stretching back to February 1974.

Glen Johnson scored the first goal of his professional career against Newcastle in November 2003 in a 5-0 Chelsea home win.

Steven Gerrard is one goal short of recording his 150th goal for the club.

112 goals have been scored in the 35 Premier League meetings between the sides - at an average of 3.2 goals per game.

The Reds have scored 73 goals against Newcastle in the Barclays Premier League - more than they have achieved against any other team.

They have scored 28 league goals at St James' Park - more than they have netted at any visiting ground in the Barclays Premier League era.

The last Liverpool player to be sent off against Newcastle was Salif Diao on New Year's Day 2003.

Michael Owen in May 2001 at Anfield scored Liverpool's last hat-trick against the Magpies.

Only two Liverpool players have ever scored a hat-trick at St James' Park - Steve Nicol in September 1987 and Michael Owen in August 1998 - both in 4-1 Reds wins.

Andy Carroll scored 31 goals in 80 league games for the Magpies and 33 in 91 appearances in all competitions. It is his first return to Tyneside since his transfer.

Liverpool have won six and drawn one of the last seven games in which he has started.

Jose Enrique joined Newcastle from Villarreal in 2007 and played 129 games for the Magpies scoring one goal (against Nottingham Forest in March 2010).

Craig Bellamy played for Newcastle from 2001-05 scoring 42 goals in 128 games.

The Welsh striker has scored five goals in his last four league appearances against the Magpies.

Stewart Downing's only goal against Newcastle in his career came in August 2004 while he was at Middlesbrough.

Liverpool have kept one clean sheet in the last nine games - against Everton at Anfield.

In that period they have failed to score only once.

Alan Pardew's first game as Newcastle boss came against Liverpool in the 3-1 win 15 months ago. That is his only win over the Reds as a manager in eight meetings.

This will be his 53rd league game in charge. He has won 20 and lost 15 with 17 draws.

The Magpies are looking to record successive home league wins over Liverpool for the first time since 1972-73.

Newcastle's biggest home win over Liverpool came in January 1934 when they won 9-2.

The last Newcastle hat-trick against the Reds was scored by Andy Cole in November 1993 in his sides 3-0 home win.

Two players - Tim Krul and Danny Simpson - have started all 30 league games this season.

Krul has saved two penalties this season - from Frank Lampard (Chelsea) and David Dunn (Blackburn).

Danny Guthrie played seven times for Liverpool with his last appearance coming against Newcastle on this ground in February 2007. He has faced the Reds only once since leaving Anfield - that 5-1 Newcastle defeat here over three years ago.

Papiss Cisse has scored five goals in his six games for Newcastle while Demba Ba has not hit the net in his last six.

United have lost one of their last five games - an injury time defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates.

They are unbeaten at home since losing to West Brom (2-3) four days before Christmas. They exacted their revenge a week ago by winning 3-1 at the Hawthorns.

The only other home defeat they have suffered this season came at the hands of Chelsea (0-3) also in December. They have won eight and drawn five of 15 in the league at home.

A Newcastle victory will give them a third successive league win for the second time this season.

They have been in the top half of the league since August 20, and have not been out of the top six since mid-January.

The Magpies have conceded nine penalties in the league this season. Going into the weekend's fixtures that is the most - one more than both West Brom and Wigan.

They have not won any of the nine league games this season when conceding the first goal of the game.

Five of Newcastle's starting XI from last season's home win over Liverpool are no longer at the club - Jose Enrique, Sol Campbell, Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Andy Carroll.

The Magpies are hoping to finish a campaign above Liverpool for the fifth time in the last 50 years - all of the previous four coming in the Premier League era - the last in 2002-03.

Leading scorers this season (league in brackets):

Liverpool: Suarez 12 (7), Bellamy 9 (6), Gerrard 9 (5), Carroll 6 (3), Kuyt 5 (2), Maxi 4 (2), Skrtel 4 (2), Adam 2 (2), Downing 2 (0), Agger 1 (0), Coates 1 (1), Henderson 1 (1), Johnson 1 (1), Kelly 1 (0), Shelvey 1 (0), own goals 6 (4).

Newcastle: Ba 16 (16), Ben Arfa 5 (4), Cisse 5 (5), Best 4 (4), Cabaye 3 (2), Gutierrez 3 (2), Lovenkrands 3 (0), R. Taylor 3 (2), Shola Ameobi 2 (2), Guthrie 2 (1), Sammy Ameobi 1 (0), Coloccini 1 (0), Gosling 1 (1), Obertan 1 (1), Simpson 1 (0), own goals 4 (4).