Howe targets 'perfect' performance to end Anfield jinx

31.12.2023 - 09:43 rte.ie

Eddie Howe has told Newcastle they need to be "near perfect" if they are to address their dreadful record at Liverpool.The Magpies will run out at Anfield on Monday evening having not won there in the Premier League since April 1994, when Rob Lee and Andy Cole were their goalscorers, and having lost their last five home and away against Jurgen Klopp's men.Newcastle came close to ending that run last season when they led through Alexander Isak's debut goal with 29 minutes remaining, before Roberto Firmino's equaliser set up substitute Fabio Carvalho to snatch victory for Liverpool in the eighth minute of stoppage time.Head coach Howe, whose side was also denied victory over the Reds at St James' Park by Darwin Nunez's late double in August, said: "There have been a couple of painful games against Liverpool, for sure."The game last season at Anfield was particularly tough for us.

This season wasn't any easier. The positive thing in both of those games was we performed really well and we were competitive and gave Liverpool a really good game."For us, we need to be near perfect in this game.

This is a really tough game for us. They have been performing very well at home especially, very consistent, really good team, so for us the challenge is that we need to re-find our best form and we need to be mentally very strong."Relations between the two benches have been tense in recent times with Klopp, who had been unhappy with Newcastle's game management, celebrating wildly after Carvalho's last-ditch winner, and he was no less pleased by Nunez's heroics on Tyneside.However, the German was fulsome in his praise for the Magpies following their 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the start of December four days after their

Premier League Newcastle soccer Sport Eddie Howe Fabio Carvalho Jurgen Klopp Roberto Firmino Darwin Núñez Alexander Isak Andy Cole Germany Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists his belief is endless in his forwards whether they score or not after Darwin Nunez had an impactful but not ultimately decisive role in the 2-1 Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win over Fulham. After coming off the bench in the 56th minute, the Uruguay international provided the assist for Curtis Jones' deflected equaliser and then the cross from which fellow substitute Cody Gakpo swept home the winner. On another day Nunez, who has scored just once in the last 16 matches, could have had a late hat-trick after being denied by goalkeeper Bernd Leno which would have virtually put Liverpool in the final ahead of the second leg in a fortnight. "He plays outstanding, I have to say it. There are so many things I love about his game," said Klopp. "The first year was a year to adapt and he scored here and there but now he contributes in all games. "The boys don't start because they score or not score. My belief and trust in them, as long as they behave properly, is endless. They deserve it because of the effort they put in. "I don't know how to explain the Darwin situation. I'm so happy about Darwin's reaction and how he takes it but you cannot be more unlucky in these finishing situations, that's not possible. "He does absolutely everything right, yet ball not in. And then he still sets up the other goal. I think that is really special to do that again." Liverpool's substitutes have contributed 15 goals and 15 assists in all competitions this season, 12 better than any other Premier League team, and Nunez has been responsible for three goals and four assists.

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