Monthly Archives: October 2014

Newcastle-Liverpool Preview: Pardew vows to attack

The under-pressure manager believes his side can take the game to the Reds after resting several players for their shock victory over Manchester City in the League Cup


Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has vowed to send his resurgent side out to attack Liverpool in Saturday’s Premier League clash at St James’ Park.

The Tyneside club have put a dismal start to the season behind them by winning their last three matches in all competitions to ease the pressure on a manager who faced fan protests earlier in the campaign.

Newcastle’s latest success came at the expense of Premier League champions Manchester City, who were consigned to a shock 2-0 League Cup defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Few gave Pardew’s side any hope of progressing to the last eight when he named a much-changed side that included the likes of Rolando Aarons, Adam Armstrong and Ryan Taylor, who was making his first start since August 2012.

Out-of-sorts City were stunned, though, by goals from Aarons and Moussa Sissoko and Pardew is now plotting a fourth win in a row this weekend.

“We have protected ourselves a little bit for Liverpool [by making changes against City]. We can now attack that,” he said. “We have real confidence and belief and that’s very important in football.

“I’ve had some good games against Liverpool since I’ve been manager here and we’ve more than held our own. I’m pretty confident I know what Liverpool will do, I’m pretty confident I know what Brendan’s side is.

“I think I know him well enough to know how he’ll come and play but I think for us, I think we can surprise them because one thing’s for sure, Brendan won’t know my team.

“I’m pretty confident of what it’s going to be and I think it’ll be an entertaining game.

“I think he’ll have [Raheem] Sterling on the pitch, he’ll have [Adam] Lallana on the pitch, he’ll have [Mario] Balotelli, [Jordan] Henderson, [Steven] Gerrard, [Philippe] Coutinho all on the pitch.

“So I think Brendan is pretty happy with that.”

Pardew will be without midfielder Cheick Tiote (calf), while striker Papiss Cisse (knee) is rated as “touch and go”.

Rodgers believes Newcastle are starting to reap the rewards of keeping faith with Pardew and the Liverpool boss knows his side will be facing a team brimming with confidence on Saturday.

“It is great credit to the people at Newcastle,” he said. “I know Alan is a top-class manager. We know there are boards who change manager but Alan is very experienced, outstanding manager and he has got results.

“Where they are at now, on the back of three wins, they have a bit of momentum.”

Rodgers will be hoping Balotelli ends his Premier League goal drought after coming off the bench to inspire a dramatic League Cup fightback against Swansea on Tuesday.

The Italian striker scored his second goal for the club four minutes from time and Dejan Lovren headed the winner deep in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win.

Liverpool will be without Daniel Sturridge (calf), Jose Enrique (knee), Mamadou Sakho (thigh), Jon Flanagan (knee) and Suso (groin).

Luis Suarez Ballon d’Or omission shocks Bartra

The Barcelona defender has expressed shock that his team-mate, who scored 31 goals in 33 league appearances at Liverpool last season, is not in the running for the award

Barcelona centre-back Marc Bartra says he is surprised that Luis Suarez is not on the Ballon d’Or shortlist.

The Uruguay international scored 31 goals in 33 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League last season, with 12 being netted in 2014 for the English side with a further 11 assists.

But he has seemingly paid the price for his bite on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup in Brazil this summer, as he was kept out of action for a full four months, only returning last week, and has been left off the 23-man list.

Bartra believes the forward, who set up Barca’s opening goal for Neymar in the 3-1 Clasico defeat against Real Madrid, should be among the candidates for the individual accolade.

“I’m surprised,” Bartra told beIN Sports. “It’s true. I think he had a spectacular year. He’s a great player, he is one of the best strikers in the world and I think he deserves to be there [on the shortlist].”

The 23-year-old also talked about his side’s recent high-profile defeats – in Suarez’s return against Madrid and versus Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

“We couldn’t win against the toughest opponents so far, but I think the team is confident and eager to continue playing good football,” he added.

Gerrard: I could leave Liverpool

The Anfield club’s captain insists he will not be retiring in the summer, meaning an exit could be on the cards if he is not offered a new contract

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he is prepared to ply his trade elsewhere if he is not offered a new contract.

Gerrard’s current deal expires at the end of the season and the midfielder says talks over a new deal are yet to take place.

The 34-year-old has previously hinted he would be open to the idea of playing abroad following Frank Lampard’s move to MLS expansion franchise New York City.

And a departure from his boyhood club – where he has made over 480 Premier League appearances – could become reality if Liverpool decide not to offer the veteran new terms.

“I can only worry about this season ’cause I’m only contracted until May,” Gerrard told The Daily Telegraph.

“As it stands at the moment, I’m here until the end of the season and want to make the most of it. I certainly won’t be retiring this summer. I will play beyond this season.

“We will have to wait and see if that’s at Liverpool or somewhere else. That’s Liverpool’s decision. If they don’t come then I will see what’s out there.”

Gerrard has been a mainstay for Liverpool this term, playing in every Premier League match ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Newcastle United.