Eddie Howe dismissed the idea that his side will “park the bus” as he previews what Newcastle United have in store for Liverpool on New Year’s Day.
League leaders Liverpool welcome Newcastle, who qualified for the Champions League last season but are currently in poor form, to Anfield. As well as being knocked out of both the Carabao Cup and European competition, they have won just two of six Premier League games.
In that match they fell to 5th place. The Reds only strengthened their strength in this period. Advancement to the Europa League and Carabao Cup semi-finals were also secured. Moreover, with four wins and a draw in the Premier League and a record number of returns from injury, confidence is building for the next game.
However, despite these chances of success, Howe was reluctant to switch from his usual plan to a defensive plan to face Liverpool. “If bus parking was easy for all of us, Anfield would be a hard place to get to.
Their data speaks for itself,” he told the ECHO’s sister website the Chronicle.“But you have to play to your strengths and be a threat in the game. I have said this many times. If you don’t threaten them in some other way, it will play into their hands.”We try to find ways to stay strong in the game, but we threaten it in other ways.
“The manager, who won just once in 18 games for Bournemouth against Liverpool during his spell at Bournemouth in December 2016, admitted the Magpies’ defense needs to improve.
He added: “Obviously from the last two games and on that side (defensively) we have to improve that side of our game. “Focusing on the heart and soul of defense is what we do and I can say we’ve done it.
