It’s a match which needs little build up in truth as we are all aware of the little sub-plots that will be played out during the match, but just in case you’ve been asleep for the last 18 or so months I’ll give you a refresher anyway.
This is the first time that Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique have returned to Tyneside since they both moved to Anfield from the North East last year. There is also the Dalglish factor, with this being the first time our former manager has returned to St James’ Park since overseeing a draw with Charlton Athletic back in 1998. With the Scot credited with ripping apart a side capable of beating anyone and selling players like Les Ferdinand while replacing them with John Barnes and Ian Rush there is sure to be a hostile reception in store.
However this isn’t all about Liverpool, even though a lot of their fans will like to think it is. We have our own agenda in this one and regardless of any sub plots there are three points on offer – three points that would strengthen our stranglehold on 6th place, especially as we are playing the team directly below us. It may also be enough for 5th should we manage to better Chelsea’s result at Aston Villa this afternoon.
Newcastle United
Cheik Tiote and Ryan Taylor are back in contention for a start, and with Fabricio Coloccini out injured it could mean that both of them slot straight back into the starting XI, with Taylor starting at left-back and Cheik Tiote in his defensive midfield role at the expense, probably, of Danny Guthrie.
Sammy Ameobi, Steven Taylor, Sylvain Marveaux, Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands all remain out while Gabriel Obertan is rated as doubtful.
Liverpool
Charlie Adam, Daniel Agger, and Lucas Leiva are unavailable, and there’s further question marks over the fitness of Craig Bellamy, Glen Johnson, and Martin Kelly.
Tactical thoughts
The obvious thing from a Newcastle perspective is to replicate what we did to West Brom in the first half last week. We blew them away in all honesty, and it was the best we’ve played in a long long time for me in terms of skill, attacking threat and controlling a game.
However this is football and sometimes a different approach is needed depending on the opposition. For instance Liverpool will present a threat down the wings, with Stewart Downing and Dirk Kuyt likely to get the nod. Would we be better off trying to plug the gaps on the flanks for example?
The problem with doing that is that we move back to a more conventional 4-4-2 system, which will take away some of the threat our attacking trio of Demba Ba, Papiss Cisee and Hatem Ben Arfa can impose on a Liverpool defence that can be got at, especially if Jamie Carragher plays!
Anyhoo, it’s not up to me and I’m not a football manager, but these are some of the questions that Alan Pardew will have to look at and assess ahead of the match tomorrow.
Stats and facts
It’s been nearly 40 years since we’ve recorded back to back home wins against Liverpool. The last time we managed such a feat was with victories at St James’ Park in the 1971/72 and 1972/73 seasons.
Newcastle go looking for three wins in a row for only the second time this season.
Liverpool have won six of the last seven fixtures between the two sides.
It’s been nine years since Newcastle had a better points haul than we have right now at the this stage of the season.
Kenny Dalglish is unbeaten as a manager against Newcastle. Of the six games the Scot has taken control of teams for, he’s won four and drawn two.
Liverpool have won only two league games in 2012. They’ve lost five of their last six league matches and Kenny Dalglish’s points haul from his last ten games is now less than what Roy Hodgson managed in the ten games before he was sacked.
Final thought
There shouldn’t be any motivation needed for this match. A win means that 6th place is all but ours and would mean that Liverpool would have to try and claw back an 11 point difference between us and them in the final seven games of the season.
Fortunately we seem to be hitting some kind of form at the right time of the season. We’ve lost one game since the 5-0 defeat at White Hart Lane, with that loss coming courtesy of a 95th minute winner from Arsenal at The Emirates. Keep up that form and Europe could be on the cards, which is some motivation, and if it isn’t we could always pin Jose Enrique’s words from July 2011 on the dressing room wall prior to kick-off.
“The club is allowing all the major players of the team to go. Seriously, do you think it is the fault of the players? Andy, Nobby etc etc. This club will never again fight to be among the top six again with this policy.”
“I think you fans are the best and you deserve the best, not what they are doing with the club. Thanks to everyone for supporting me.”
“They give the money I have already. They lie all the time. But is no for money is because they don’t want spend in the club and bring quality players that’s why everybody go.”
That should get our players fired up enough to go out there and inflict some damage.
Howay the lads!
Date: Sunday, 1st April, 2012
Time: 1:30pm – Live on Sky
Venue St James’ Park
God you’re right. I’ve been so worked up about all these pikeys returning i’ve completely brushed aside the real importance of the match.
I genuinely think Chelsea will drop points today, so that gives us a huge chance tomorrow to go 5th. Don’t think we will be able to hold it all season, but it will be a huge boost to the lads and might give them that extra buzz to finish the season with a flourish.
As I said, people like Enrique just catered to gullible fans. Is signing Charlie Adam showing more ambition than Yohan Cabaye?
Players like Colo and Gutierrez will have had the same circumstances as Enrique; offered a contract at a lower wage or the same. They obviously were being honest in their love for the club.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Nice read Toonsy.
if we turn up we win. Think that it will be a close battle between us and Chelsea for 5th, but I think Arsenal & Spurs have a bit too much and both will break the 70pt barrier.
Team picks itself today. Tiote back, and Raylor at LB because of his versitility. 4-3-3 result 3-1 to us.
Premandup(Quote)
Good preview Toonsy. I understand the need for some caution but honestly I don’t think we should go 442 just because of Downing and Kuyt . The fact is we are not as good in that formation as we don’t have the same attacking threat as with 433 . I don’t wanna see 442 and hoofball and pressure on the back four all game because the long ball keeps coming back at us. No it has to be 433 ,let them worry about us getting at them not the other way round. We always give way too much respect to Liverpool and look out of our depth when we play them more so than Man utd ! .While i understand they are a massive club with history and stuff ,they are really out of sorts at the moment and we must really capitalize on that and grab the bull by the horns and own that 5th /6th spot .
kimtoon(Quote)
It would be better if they were more worried about our attacking threat than we of theirs.
Truth be told it will come down to how well Perch and Willo play together, and the back 4 as a whole.
By being more positive in attack, it should relieve the pressure on our defence. But also Tiote needs to have a blinder too.
Unfortunately the racists are in a position to be the only club so far to do the double over us this season. 👿 and going on past history probably will. But its not about the past, its the here and now, and we are deffo better than them this season.
I think this has all the ingredients to be a fantastic match, so I’m putting my money on another 3-1 win.
Howay the Lads.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Opta Sports @OptaJoe Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
1 – Chelsea have only won one of their last 12 Premier League visits to Villa Park (W1 D7 L4). Blues.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
ST – that dont mean nowt really mate.
Chelsea know we are breathing down their necks, Villa will be feeling the effects of the Petrov news.
Taking these factors in to account, plus Torres is gradually finding his feet now, and it all points to a chelski win imo.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I think there’s going to be lots of goals tomorrow with our front three and our defense. Sticking my neck out at a 4-2 win!
dan4toon(Quote)
According to Steven Taylor, Obertan is the most skillful player in our squad. Lovenkrands is the thickest, and the “longest in the shower” 😆
toonsy(Quote)
BB – Not so sure. There are lots of examples of teams finding an extra gear in adversity, and with the news about Petrov I wouldn’t be surprised if the Villa players were right up for it.
toonsy(Quote)
It will be a big question, how solid we will be without colo? If we can resist and don’t concede I think we have the players to score at least 1 or 2 goals. I just hope its enough to win. Prediction 2-1 for us.
Hope it will be a nice game very entertaining to watch.
HBA39(Quote)
It all adds to the pressure for them though BB, I know these records can only be taken with a pinch of salt, but there’s no doubting they don’t have an effect on both sets of players. They shouldn’t but it’s only natural.
One thing that has been really pleasing of the last couple of years is how many of our “hoodoos” we’ve broken, so we don’t have as many “Newcastle haven’t beat so and so in x years”.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
By the way, interesting stat, we beat them last time without Coloccini who was suspended.
toonsy(Quote)
So hope we will do it again.
I think 3 points tomorrow and we can push for the 5th or 4th place because confidence will be very high and with confidence a player like Benny can just display some performances that he can win the games alone.
HBA39(Quote)
Toonsy – “with the news about Petrov I wouldn’t be surprised if the Villa players were right up for it.”
I hope so mate 😀
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Haha oh god Toonsy, I’ve just remembered who replaced him… Their equaliser when the ball bounced off Campbell’s back 😆
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Nice write-up Toons.
(has Shamrock done a runner?)
…Downing doesn’t really worry me, he’s got to be the most overrated English footballer on the planet, for me. He’s like a **** Gutierrez. He’s bound to have a blinder now I’ve said that. 😕
Bellamy is my biggest worry, if he plays. I’m sure ‘king’ Kenny will throw him and Carroll in. Like you say, grievances aside, this is a 6 pointer for us with regards to table position and the relatively ‘easy’ succession of games following, before our ‘testing’ last 3.
Just score more than them, lads!!
TOON TOON 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
Toonsy,
Are you a proud parent yet ❓
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
“the thickest, and the “longest in the shower” 😯 😯 😯 a bit like mesel fnaar fnaar
richietoon(Quote)
40 years since back to back home wins 😯 Jesus.
Saying that, I’d probably take a draw.
Only thing I’m a bit worried about is playing Raylor without the support of Jonas or indeed any other winger, unless we stick Jonas to the left of the 3 with tiote in the middle in a sort of outwards triangle…guess it makes sense.
Newkie(Quote)
I’d consider sumik like this, not much different to last weekend:
Simpson – Williamson – Perch – Jonas
——————–Tiote————————
Guthrie——————————-Santon
——————Cabaye———————-
———Barfa ————— Ba————–
——————–Cisse———————–
…although I’m not big on formations, I’d like to see those players on the pitch.
Rodzilla(Quote)
….maybe swap Guthrie for Obertan if Downing’s pace starts to cause problems.
Rodzilla(Quote)
TGS – No news as yet mate.
toonsy(Quote)
…in fact I’d swap Guthrie over with Santon. Yeah, made mi mind up now:
Simpson – Williamson – Perch – Jonas
—————-—–Tiote——————–—-
Santon——————————–Guthrie
—————-—Cabaye—————-——
———Barfa ————-— Ba————–
—————-—–Cisse——-—————–
Rodzilla(Quote)
Toonsy, do you know if it’s a girl or a boy yet? What’s the ETA? They likely to be a fellow Taurean like myself 😎 , or an Aries?
Rodzilla(Quote)
Toonsy,
I take it that birth is iminent ❓
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Rodz-that would be a hell of a formation 😛
Newkie(Quote)
richie,
I see you hit the jackpot on the predictor last week ❓
Jammy fecka 😥
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Rodzilla – that would make 11 outfield players. You think we should leave an empty net like?
beardoschin(Quote)
yeah I like it Newkie 😎
…think it covers our defensive and attacking capabilities, given our squad. Gets all our best (IMO) players in, and takes a bit of pressure off the defence. We’ll see, I guess 😯
I wanna see us teach ’em a lesson. The squad shouldn’t need any more of an incentive to do one on them. There are plenty of reasons to want tear them apart.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Santon RM? Jonas LB? Guthrie LM? No keeper. It’s madness I tell you madness
beardoschin(Quote)
beardoschin
hahahaha 😛 😳 😳
…what a ****. sure I’m not the only one to have done that before.
I am actually blushing in my own front room, on my own now.
ahhh **** it. I give up 😆 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
😆 everyone has their moments mate
beardoschin(Quote)
——————–Ben Arfa——————-
Cabaye—-– Ba – – Jonas—–Obertan
Williamson—————————–Tiote
—————–—Santon—————-——
——Simpson ————-— Krul—–—–
—————-—–Perch——-—————–
…is that better Beardoschin 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
Clearly you’re just the truest disciple of total football there is. I assumed we’d be playing rush keeper? 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Hmmm, I’m now wondering if you are taking the mick out of the .com blog forums
beardoschin(Quote)
This formation looks the bollocks like…..
————–——– 👿 ——————-
😈 -– 👿 – – 👿 —– 😈
😎 ————————–———– 😎
—————-–— 💡 —————-——
—— 😯 ———-—-— 😯 —––
——————-—– ❗ ——-—————–
Rodzilla(Quote)
….reet, no more daftness for noo.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Newkie, aye, rush ‘keeper 😆 …the way forwad like. Surprised managers haven’t tried it out yet. 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rodz – It’s due on Tuesday mate, it’s still an “it” as we don’t know what it it will be. A baby obviously, but whether it’s a boy or girl I mean. Just lots of being ready at the moment knowing that technically anything can happen now at anytime. If you want an insight into the mrs’ womb, the baby is now “engaged” so it’s almost ready now, just picking a time for it more than anything.
At a Christening this afternoon (that I vehemently don’t want to go to as my mrs’ sister planned it to coincide with the birth in my view, plus they want vouchers for an iPad for a two year old. Hmmm…. I want vouchers for computer games for my kids birth – you see what I’m getting at) so I really hope it all kicks off then 😀
toonsy(Quote)
hahaha, nice one Toons, hope it all goes according to plan and on schedule for yers anyway. You should run a sex poll ( 😳 sounds wrong). I reckon it’ll be a wee laddie.
…don’t all 2 year olds use ipads these days like? Technology moves fast with the kids of today. I’m getting on a bit I think 😀
Rodzilla(Quote)
Rodz – It’s an absolute pisstake mate. Fizzing about it as it’s blatant pisstaking. We’ll probably have to buy car vouchers for his first car next. Still, I just supply the money and let them get on with it. If I see anyone else other than the kid using the iPad though I will smash it.
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy you should ask them if they are having a fckin laugh .
batty(Quote)
Toonsy@39 Gosh ,what ever happened to giving a beatrix potter mug /piggybank or Christening bangle 😯 🙄
Good luck for a straightforward birth anyway Toonsy 😀
kimtoon(Quote)
Toonsy-If you’re raging now, what happens if we get thumped 5-0 against Liverpool 😯
Try not too cause too much offence like. Family is the most important thing after all. After football…
Newkie(Quote)
Batty – Exactly 😉
They are, at everyones expense.
Anyway, if anyone wants to send me a gift for the new baby I’ll accept vouchers for a 50″ 3D TV please. I mean it’s for the kid obviously… 😉
toonsy(Quote)
hahaha Toonsy, smash it!! 😡
I was talking to a mate of mine the other day who was at a fkn ‘baby shower’ or sumik?! Said you have to give them presents cos they’re having a baby? I’d never heard of that one before like. I suppose it’s one thing asking for nappies and stuff, but and ipad! 😆 😆 ….just buy them a couple of these…
http://www.oneclickpharmacy.co.uk/safe-sound-adhesive-p-43915.html?currency=GBP
😆 😛 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
Hmm. Think if we win tomorrow we have top 6 sewn up. With that in mind I’ve just decided I will be rooting Sunderland on for the rest of the season, along with Everton and West Brom etc.
Who would people prefer to finish higher, scousers or mackems?
Personally I want to see the bindippers crash and burn massively! 😈
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
team for tomorrow should be
==========krul===========
simpson=willo=perch==raylor
==========tiote==========
======cabaye=jonas=======
benny=====cisse======ba==
Army69(Quote)
Toonsy @ 45 would the cub not want an xbox and call of duty to go with the big tv. seems a bit tight considering there is not much good **** on tv to keep the kids entertained 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – Nah,
I’ve gotthe kid has got Call Of Duty already 😉toonsy(Quote)
TGS….aye I’m on a roll at the moment, probably come to a screeching halt this weekend though 🙁
Toonsy…I’m sending you £100 Woolworths voucher now to put towards ya telly….oh and my Northern Rock shares 😉
richietoon(Quote)
🙄 **** me I’ve heard it all now. 😯
.
Rodz has the answer tho with his eye pad
classic 😆
.
Good luck to the Mrs Toonsy, hope all goes well.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
i wonder what lawro’s prediction is for tomorrow then haha??? newcastle 0 liverpool 9??
Army69(Quote)
Rich – Cheers mate 😉 😆
toonsy(Quote)
It’s a sure fire crowd pleaser BB. 😆
..reet I’m off to the Co-op for some cider. I expect some ‘going to the Co-op’ presents waiting for me when I get back. 😎
laters…….
Rodzilla(Quote)
ARMY@53 Lawro prediction is 1.1 😯
kimtoon(Quote)
Would be happy if Larwo predicted a 0-9 pool win, would mean we’re likely to win by three or four
Newkie(Quote)
I guess that’s a draw ruled out then 😀
richietoon(Quote)
@trumpet
I’ve replied to your post on previous thread.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
” Players like Colo and Gutierrez will have had the same circumstances as Enrique; offered a contract at a lower wage or the same. They obviously were being honest in their love for the club.”
Erm, Enrique was being recognised as one of the rising stars of the Premier League.
Maybe the other two felt like they weren’t in quite as strong a negotiating position due to their age.
Pardew just did an interview in which he said that he felt Enrique might have been unhappy with the way things had been run not that he just jumped ship for money. If Pardew was involved and believes that Enrique may have just been unhappy with the way things were being run to that point, why should you assume that it was all just greed?
If he left because he thought he would win more and be more successful then he’s been proved right surely? Theyve already won one cup.
Pootle(Quote)