Newcastle - too strong for Liverpool - - The official of John Beresford

Newcastle - too strong for Liverpool - 05/12/2003

They'll miss him

Without wanting to tempt fate, I’m confident of a Newcastle victory tomorrow – even more so after hearing that Harry Kewell is to be missing with an ankle injury. Liverpool were very poor at St. James last season, and I’m sure they’ll want to improve on that performance. Once again they are missing Michael Owen – the one player who can really frighten the Newcastle defence.

For me, Alan Shearer will be the man tomorrow. He’s up against a bit of a make shift Liverpool defence, and he’ll give Igor Biscan the run around. Traore isn’t a world beater and there’s talk that Liverpool might be giving a game to young Jon Otsemobor. With Laurent Robert getting a recall I can see a game with plenty of chances – something that Alan Shearer will welcome!!

The race of fourth place is the only Premiership target that remains realistic for the two side tomorrow, it’s effectively a six pointer. I know that teams such as Birmingham, Charlton, and Fulham are up there at present, but surely it’ll come down to the two Northern football cities. No disrespect, but I just can’t imagine the aforementioned clubs playing in the Champions League. It’s by no means make or break tomorrow, but when Al was interviewed after last weeks draw at Molineux he said that he hoped the two dropped points wouldn’t come back to haunt him. Well, losing tomorrow could be far more costly – not that I think that’ll happen.