Although Newcastle United’s defense was not very good in December, Eddie Howe still wants his squad to pose a threat to Liverpool.
Eddie Howe has dispelled the notion that his team will “park the bus” and given Liverpool a taste of what to expect when Newcastle United visits on New Year’s Day.
Liverpool, the current league leaders, will host Newcastle at Anfield. Although Newcastle is currently having a terrible season, they were the team that eliminated them from the Champions League the previous year.
Their poor performance in six Premier League games, coupled with their elimination from both the Carabao Cup and European competition, has caused them to drop to fifth place.
Over this time, the Reds have only strengthened their position. Both a spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and advancement into the Europa League were guaranteed. In addition to a Premier League record of four victories and two draws, along with a few players making their way back from injury, confidence is rising ahead of this next match.
But despite those disparities in luck, Howe is unwilling to stray from his usual strategy in favor of a more defensive one in order to counter Liverpool.
“If it was that easy, we’d all be parking the bus. Going to Anfield is a very difficult ground. Their record there says that,” he told the ECHO’s sister site, the Chronicle.
“But you also have to Their poor performance in six Premier League games, coupled with their elimination from both the Carabao Cup and European competition, has caused them to drop to fifth place.
Over this time, the Reds have only strengthened their position. Both a spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and advancement into the Europa League were guaranteed. In addition to a Premier League record of four victories and two draws, along with a few players making their way back from injury, confidence is rising ahead of this next match.
to your strengths and you have to be a threat in the game. I said that many times, if you are not a threat the other way then that totally plays into your opponents’ hands.
“We will try to find a way to be solid in the game but also a threat the other way.”
Though the manager, who has only beaten Liverpool once in 18 bouts when still with Bournemouth back in December 2016, did concede his Magpies must improve defensively.
He added: “Certainly from the last two games and that aspect (defensively), we need to improve that aspect of our play.
“I have no problem saying focus on the fundamentals and the basic part of defending is something we will do and have done.”
