Newcastle needs a “perfect game” against Liverpool on Anfield – Howe

Eddie Howe believes Newcastle will have to play near the “perfect game” to improve Liverpool on Anfield.

The reds are on their way to securing the Premier League title after extending the lead at the top of the table on 11 points over the weekend.

The men of Arne Slot were impressive in the way they shipped Manchester City 2-0 on Sunday, but at home they were also cheeky, and the only defeat of the League on Anfield arrived in September against Nottingham Forest.

Howwe knows his side, which are currently parting with Manchester City points in fifth place, he knows that they need to manage a sense of playing in Liverpool.

The Toon boss said, “We have to be close to the perfect game from our perspective.

“Learning from a recent match against Manchester City would be a good starting point for us where we did not perform an aggressive game plan we wanted and did not attack the game well enough.

“We have to learn from it at Anfield, which is a great environment to play football, but it is not good if you are not completely.

“We have to admit it and make sure we show up. It’s psychologically huge. It’s an emotional stadium, we’ll have to start well and we have to have a threat in the game.”

Eddie Howe in the current battle for European places:

“This is a very interesting, interesting combination of teams. Some expect it to be there, some who had an extraordinary season there. I only think from our point of view; That’s where we fight for those places. ” pic.twitter.com/ctsvtzn88q

– Newcastle United (@nufc) 25. February 2025

Howe: Stopping Salah’s “Challenge”

Newcastle’s hopes that he will get a result at Merseyside on Wednesday night could depend on how to deal with Mohamed Salah, who still has an extraordinary season for Reds.

The Egyptian striker scored 25 goals and scored 16 assists in 27 Premier League games and found a net in the last six games in the competition.

As the 32-year-old stops, Howe added: “It will be a challenge for us. He is not always reduced to any individual on the team, although he will naturally oppose one opponent, it is a team that supports the terrain area.

“I think he is a great game against Arsenal at home at Carabao Cup to think about. We defended ourselves in two, three, four. We had a mentality we wanted to defend our goal at the highest level.

“I don’t think we have been consistent in recent weeks, but we’ll need it in this game.”

Howe: The inconsistency is frustrating

Newcastle suffered from an inconsistent shape late, winning three and lost three in the last six games of the Premier League.

The contrasting form they showed may be best summed up in their last game against Forest, when they scored four goals in the first half, before seeing them almost to surrender their lead in a 4-3 victory in the second period.

Howwe added: “He was there all season to some extent. There were games we frustrated within you. But when you hear a 13 -winning statistics of 16, it’s not an inconsistent team. I would definitely take it again in the next 16 games.

“I try to be very honest and admit that we were inconsistent sometimes on Sunday (win 4-3 over Nottingham Forest) that reflected.”

Newscastle team news

Howwe said that midfielder Sandro Tonas “went fine” in his replacement appearance against Forest “predicts that he will be completely in shape now.”

Defender Sven Botman also “quickly improves” and will be “very close” to the Liverpool game.

On Jelinton’s fitness, Howe said, “Joe is similar to Sven, in really improves and works really well and pushes. He is another player who could be quite close.”

“He has the key aspects we missed when he is gone, his physicality and strength lacks an obvious presence in our midfield. Joey is a massive player for us.”