Following the completion of the recent international break, the Reds will make the trip to St James' Park, in the first of our nine fixtures scheduled for the month of April.
Erik, who was joined by journalists at Carrington on Friday afternoon, was quizzed on a wide range of topics, including Wout Weghorst's future, Champions League football and the resumption of our season.
As we edge nearer to kick-off, you can now read, and watch, everything the boss had to say in part two of his media briefing, ahead of a highly anticipated encounter in the North East.