We know what is coming...but let’s be resilient again
BRUCE ASKS FOR ANOTHER SPIRITED SHOW
STEVE Bruce insists he was satisfied with his side’s “resilience” in their 2-0 defeat against Manchester City – and now wants to see more of the same against Liverpool.
There was a feeling that Newcastle did well against City despite having just 25% possession and managing only two shots on target overall, with Pep Guardiola’s men barely moving out of second gear.
The champions roll into Toon on the back of an 11-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, their last defeat coming in a 7-2 thrashing at Aston Villa back in early October.
Since then Serie A side Atlanta are the only side to have managed to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side, in a Champions League fixture.
Liverpool aren’t bulletproof but it will depend on how Newcastle go about their business, and whether they sit waiting for breaks that might not even come or throw down the gauntlet against a Reds side who have had less recovery time than United.
Bruce said: “They are a very good side who are the champions of this country.
“We know what to expect and we know what’s coming.
“We need to perform like we did at Man City but have that little bit more in the final third.
“For large periods of the game, we showed resilience and will need to do the same against a very good Liverpool team.”
Bruce will hope to rely on Callum Wilson for the clash with Liverpool after he wasn’t risked in the loss at the Etihad Stadium and spent the night warming the bench.
Bruce, who left him out due to an ankle problem, said: “That is the hardest part of the game, to score one and create one.
“That’s why the strikers and number 10s and the wide players cost the most money.
“We’ve missed Callum, of course. “He has been a really big plus for us, hopefully, he will be ready to go for Wednesday and hopefully that little bit of quality might make the difference. Who knows?” Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by West Brom on Sunday night to the disappointment of the 2,000 fans watching from the Kop.
However, Bruce knows that Klopp’s side are more than capable of putting on a show when they want to, and their 7-0 victory away to Crystal Palace is still fresh in the memories of Reds players.
Bruce added: “They are no doubt a quality team.
“The records and the trophies that
they’ve won over the last couple of years is there for everybody to see.
“They’re European champions, champions of England, world champions. They’re a very good side.
“We know what is coming, that is the Premier League, it is a difficult and demanding league.”
For Newcastle, it is the second part of a three-segment challenge over Christmas and New Year against three of the top six sides in the Premier League.
Bruce handed his players a day off after Manchester City to recover but the preparations are now back under way.
The Toon boss reflected: “When you get two or three of the big ones back to back you’d like a week to recover and be able to make sure you are ready to go again.
“But we have been pitted against two of the best teams in the country back to back.
“Bring it on, let’s recover then see what we can do.”