Archive
All Eyes On Liverpool, Says Boss
Written by Newcastle Utd
Alan Pardew is putting United's Capital One Cup success aside and instead focusing firmly on Saturday's league fixture with Liverpool
By Steven Back
Alan Pardew is putting United's Capital One Cup success aside and instead focusing firmly on their Premier League home fixture with Liverpool on Saturday (12.45pm kick-off).
Buoyant after their 2-0 victory over holders Manchester City on Wednesday, Newcastle boss Pardew is now excited by the challenge Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side will bring to Tyneside.
And Pardew has the belief that his squad can record a fourth successive triumph in all competitions, after also seeing off Leicester and Tottenham in recent weeks.
"It is always a tough game. It's always a great fixture which has a certain romance about it and I think it's going to make for a cracking game on Saturday," said Pardew, whose first match as Magipes manager saw a 3-1 win over Liverpool at St. James' Park in December 2010.
"There have been some good games against Liverpool since I've been here and we have more then held our own.
"I'm pretty confident what Liverpool will do, I know him (Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager) well enough to know how he will come and play, but I think we can surprise them because one thing is for sure, Brendan won't know my team.
"But I'm pretty confident of what's its going to be and I think it will be an entertaining game."
Pardew has some more tough selection decisions to make this weekend following the returns of Rolando Aarons and Ryan Taylor from injury.
Both played pivotal roles in United's midweek win at the Etihad Stadium and will be fighting for places in Saturday's squad.
However, there are doubts once again over the fitness of striker Papiss Cisse, who has missed the last two games with a knee complaint.
"We have a lot of good players in form at the moment so it's difficult to pick the bench let alone the team," added Pardew.
"The only slight issue I have is with Papiss Cisse and is he going to be fit. We are in a very similar position to where we were (with Cisse) at Tottenham, so we will have to wait and see."
Pardew will definitely be without Davide Santon and Siem de Jong who are still sidelined through injury, while there are doubts over Cheick Tiote and Mike Williamson.