Formation change required for Toon turnaround

It would not be an understatement to say that the last two weeks have been an absolute disaster for Newcastle United on the pitch.

Decimated by Fulham and dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship Brighton and Hove Albion, the Magpies are enduring the most difficult period of their campaign since the winless streak that lasted for six matches from November to mid December.

However, Alan Pardew and his side have an opportunity to quickly turn things around, as they face Steve Kean's struggling Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Overrun in midfield against Fulham and devoid of attacking spark at Brighton, Newcastle must find a way to protect their back four and rediscover their touch in front of goal.

Danny Guthrie has struggled to fill in for Cheik Tiote in the Ivorian's absence, while Leon Best and Shola Ameobi have been wasteful up front.

Still in spite of the failings of certain individuals, it has been the formation employed by Manager Pardew that has cost Newcastle in their past two contests.

Following a successful trial of the formation in their 1-0 win over QPR, Newcastle have operated with a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, the system has been an abject failure since the victory over Mark Hughes' side.

The formation has it's advantages, with Hatem Ben Arfa, who has been deployed on the right of the three, and Jonas Gutierrez, who plays through the centre in the system, free to rotate at will, giving Newcastle an added flexibility in attack.

However, the system's downfall has been the positioning of Leon Best, who works from the left side of the three in the formation.

Irish international Best is a tireless worker who will give 100% for the cause, but for all his upside in terms of effort and work rate, Best is not a left winger, and his inability to operate in the role and provide a creative force going forward has cost Newcastle in their last two contests.

In addition it's offensive failings, the formation also has defensive shortcomings, Guthrie and Yohan Cabaye have to cover more ground defensively from a deeper position and as a result they are unable to contribute more in an attacking sense. Cabaye is the prototype box to box midfield, and he has demonstrated this on many occasions, most notably in Newcastle's 3-0 win over Manchester United.

Guthrie, however, does not have the same stamina to replicate the defensive work rate of the absent Tiote. This much was obvious in the second half at Fulham, as Clint Dempsey, Bryan Ruiz and Andrew Johnson ripped through the heart of the Newcastle midfield.

To conclude my thoughts on the 4-2-3-1 formation, I believe it is a formation that can be employed by Newcastle, but not without their full strength personnel, and in particular Tiote. The system allows a team to maintain possession, but while Newcastle did this against Brighton, they struggled to create clear cut chances.

Whilst the formation allows a team to keep the ball more effectively, it leaves them open defensively if adequate midfield cover is not present, this is what Newcastle have discovered in recent weeks and this will continue to be case if they stick with the system minus Tiote. The Magpies do not possess a speedy backline and because of this they can be considered doubly vulnerable when operating with this formation.

It is my view therefore that Alan Pardew should abandon this formation until midfield general Tiote returns. Blackburn, despite their troubles, do possess quick players such as Junior Hoilett, Ruben Rochina and Mauro Formica, and they can hurt Newcastle if given time and space.

Switching back to a 4-4-2 formation would restrict the space available to Rovers' flair players and benefit Best, whose movement as part of a front two has been an asset to Newcastle in past encounters, as well as Shola Ameobi who enjoyed his best games of the season so far against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Newcastle played 4-4-2 on both those occasions.

Newcastle have more than enough quality to beat Blackburn, even without Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote, but they must play the right system in order to do so. Rovers are fighting for their lives at the foot of the Premier League, and will be motivated in front of their home crowd on a cold Wednesday night, for that reason, it may be best to drop the 4-2-3-1 to secure victory.

Cabaye charge compounds South Coast horror show

Newcastle once again fell victim to an FA Cup giant killing on Saturday, as a toothless performance allowed Brighton and Hove Albion to grab a 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium.

The Magpies had the better of the game's chances, as Leon Best and Danny Simpson both went close in the first half, and Seagulls keeper Peter Brezovan was called into action on a number of occasions in the second 45 as Newcastle looked to come through a difficult tie.

However, it was to be the home side that would book their place in the 5th Round as Will Buckley's effort deflected past Tim Krul after the midfielder had skipped past Simpson and surged down the left hand side. 

There was to be no dramatic comeback from Alan Pardew's team as Brighton were able to see out the remaining minutes with relative ease. The result signalled another early FA Cup exit for Newcastle and condemned them to another trophy-less season. 

It was a miserable night for the Magpies as the strike pairing of Leon Best and Shola Ameobi failed to fire on any cylinders whatsoever. The imminent return of top scorer Demba Ba and new signing Papiss Cisse will be a boost to the side. However, their return will be tempered by the possible absence of key midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who has been charged with violent conduct by the FA after appearing to kick out at Brighton's Adam El-Abd following a questionable challenge from the defender. 

Cabaye has promised to 'vigorously fight' the charge and he will have the full backing of both Manager Pardew and, surprisingly, El-Abd, who has offered his support to the Frenchman. 

The midfielder's refusal to accept the charge means that he will be available for selection ahead of the vital clash with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.

Newcastle will hope that the FA disciplinary panel rule in their favour, as a guilty verdict against Cabaye will see him miss 3 Premier League matches, and this could be extended if the FA rule that the former Lille man's appeal was 'frivolous'. 

More immediate concerns lie ahead for Pardew though, and he will hoping that he and his charges are able to get back on track in Lancashire, and earn what would be a very valuable three points. 

The Premier League's European Qualification rules: How Newcastle can qualify

I've talked a lot about Newcastle possibly qualifying for Europe this season without going into detail about how they can achieve this goal. So for the benefit of Newcastle fans everywhere, here is the complete guide to European qualification from the English league system and how Newcastle can qualify.

English European Competition Qualification 2011/12

1st     Champions League Group Stage (currently Manchester City)

2nd    Champions League Group Stage (currently Manchester United)

3rd    Champions League Group Stage (currently Tottenham)

4th     Champions League Third (Final) Qualifying Round (currently Chelsea)

5th     Europa League Third (Final) Qualifying Round (currently Arsenal)

League Cup Winners: Europa League Qualifying (Liverpool or Cardiff City) If winners achieve qualification via League Position this slot goes to the highest placed team not qualified via other means.

FA Cup Winners: Europa League Qualifying. If winners achieve qualification via League Position the runners-up will take their place in Europa League. If both have achieved qualification via League Position the slot goes to the highest placed team not qualified by other means.

How can Newcastle United get in to Europe?

Champions League:

Newcastle finish in the top 4. Mathematically possible but optimistic at best.

Europa League:

Newcastle finish 5th

Newcastle win FA Cup

Newcastle reach FA Cup Final but lose to Champions League qualified Team

Newcastle finish 6th with Liverpool winning the League Cup and finishing 5th

Newcastle finish 6th with two teams contesting the FA Cup Final who have already qualified for Europe (CL place or Europa League via League or League Cup)

Newcastle finish 7th with two teams contesting the FA Cup Final who have already qualified for Europe (CL place or Europa League via League or League Cup) AND Liverpool win the League Cup whilst finishing in a position that would afford them European qualification.

So there you have it, the complete guide to European qualification. Please note I did not compile this very detailed and coherent explanation. That was done by my good friend and fellow Toon fan Colin Rance, you should reward Colin by following him on twitter. Do it now, follow @ColinRance. 

Equatorial Guinea hand Newcastle timely boost

Remarkably, since Demba Ba departed for the African Cup of Nations, Newcastle have scored five goals. Unfortunately they have conceded six, five of which came in last Saturday's horrendous defeat at Fulham.

The 5-2 defeat at Craven Cottage was the result of a second half blitz from the home side, who had struggled to gain any foothold in the first 45 minutes as Newcastle dominated.

Still Alan Pardew's side only managed to score one goal in their first half of superiority, and they payed the price as they collapsed defensively after Fulham were awarded a questionable penalty which Danny Murphy duly converted.

A further three Fulham goals - including another penalty, this time converted by Bobby Zamora - in a rampant twelve minute spell put the game beyond doubt. Hatem Ben Arfa added to Danny Guthrie's magnificent first half effort with a fine goal of his own to add a little more respectability to the scoreline.

However, their was still time for the Cottagers to have the last laugh as American midfielder Clint Dempsey - who, along with Andrew Johnson, had tormented the Newcastle defence for the entire second half - rounded off his hat-rick to put the gloss on a wonderful afternoon for Fulham, but a disastrous one for the Magpies.

It was by far Newcastle's worst performance of this campaign. The midfield, minus the calming influence of Cheick Tiote, was overrun and the defence failed to handle the pace and guile of Johnson and Dempsey.

Still, while Newcastle missed the chance to close the gap on Chelsea in 4th, defeats for both Arsenal and Liverpool negated the impact of the defeat to an extent.

Pardew's men still sit sixth in the Barclays Premier League table, and will be buoyed by the return of Ba and new signing Papiss Cisse, who will fly home on Monday after Senegal were eliminated from the African Cup of Nations following a 2-1 defeat to Equatorial Guinea. 

Ba and Cisse will both naturally be disappointed to have been knocked out of the competition in the Group Stage, and it would be wrong of Newcastle fans to revel in one nation's sorrow. However, their return is a massive boost to a side whose other strikers have struggled for consistency. 

The Senegalese pair may be available for Newcastle's clash with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Wednesday.

Before that though there is the small matter of an FA Cup 4th Round tie at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening. 

Pardew has rightly declared his intentions to play his strongest side at the Amex Stadium, as they face a Brighton side that has rapidly improved under former Chelsea star Gustavo Poyet.

As it stands Newcastle's current league position would be enough to guarantee them European Football next season, however this could change depending on who is victorious in each of the domestic Cup Finals.

Therefore the FA Cup is undoubtedly a trophy that Pardew and his charges should be looking to win, as triumph in the competition would hand the club it's first major silverware and guarantee the place in the Europa League that Newcastle have identified as their aim.

Manchester City are already out of the cup, and one of Manchester United and Liverpool will soon join them. The door is open for a team outside the top four to be successful in the competition, and with two of the hottest striking talents in European football on their books, Newcastle will believe they are capable of advancing all the way to the Final.

Match Preview: Fulham v Newcastle: Guthrie holds key to ending Cottage curse

After comfortably defeating one West London club, Newcastle now lock horns with another, as they travel to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham.

It as a fixture that has not given Newcastle much joy in recent years. The Magpies have not beaten the Cottagers on the road since 2007, when Sam Allardyce was in the hotseat on Tyneside. A Joey Barton penalty gave Newcastle a 1-0 win on that day.

The Geordies have only played twice more at the Cottage since then, but their record at Fulham's historic home is far from impressive, their 2007 triumph was Newcastle's only success in their last five visits to the stadium.

However, Newcastle go into this fixture on the back of a three game winning streak, and will be confident of securing another positive result as they look to maintain their top six challenge.

The Magpies' task will be made more difficult by the absence of Yohan Cabaye, who is a doubt for the game after sustaining ligament damage in the win over QPR.

Fulham have injury troubles of their own with Moussa Dembele and striker Orlando Sa both absent through injury.

Cabaye's possible absence would present Toon boss Alan Pardew with a difficult decision. Dan Gosling, Mehdi Abeid and Haris Vuckic have all played in central midfield in the absence of Cheick Tiote, who is away on African Cup of Nations duty. Danny Guthrie will likely fill one of the spots in the middle of the park after an efficient display against Fulham's West London rivals.

Hatem Ben Arfa replaced Cabaye in the immediate aftermath of Cabaye's injury, and the Clairefontaine academy graduate produced an encouraging performance from both an attacking and defensive standpoint.

Pardew now must determine whether he wants to employ a defensively minded player such as Abeid in place of Cabaye, or a more creative force in order to give his side more options going forward.

Whatever he decides, Pardew must ensure that his side is well balanced and able to deal with the considerable attacking threat that Fulham pose through the likes of  Bobby Zamora, Bryan Ruiz and Clint Dempsey.

Fulham are a dangerous prospect at home and have demonstrated this on many occasions, most recently in their 2-1 victory over Arsenal just a couple of weeks ago. Despite this I believe that Pardew should opt for a more aggressive team selection, and deploy the expressive talents of Vuckic and Ben Arfa from the start.

If Newcastle are to finish in the top six then they need to be taking maximum points for fixtures such as this one, therefore, in my opinion, an attacking lineup designed to exploit spaces in the Fulham midfield makes sense against a team that likes to stretch the field and play an open, free-flowing game.

Pardew has a myriad of options available to him should Cabaye miss what is another vital clash in Newcastle's European charge, but in the absence of Cheick Tiote, it is the performance of Danny Guthrie that will hold the key to Newcastle's fortunes against Martin Jol's side.

Indeed, if Guthrie struggles, then Newcastle may find themselves overrun by a dynamic Fulham midfield. However, if he is able to retain possession and use it intelligently, as he has done on many occasions this season, then Newcastle will have a good chance of ending their rotten run at the Cottage.

Newcastle signal intent with Cisse signing

All signed up: Cisse at Newcastle's Benton training ground

Just under twelve months ago, the ambition of the Newcastle hierarchy was placed under great scrutiny as they sold home grown number 9 Andy Carroll to Liverpool for £35 million.

Fast forward to the present day, Newcastle sit sixth in the Barclays Premier League table, one place above Liverpool and have signalled their European intentions with a big money signing of their own.

In a move that surprised every outside of the football club, Newcastle completed a five and a half year deal for Freiburg forward Papiss Cisse.

Cisse, one of the hotter properties in European football in recent seasons, has been handed the famous number 9 jersey by Newcastle Manager Alan Pardew, and will join up with his new team mates when he returns from African Cup of Nations duty.

Nicknamed the Toumboule (the effective one) in his African homeland, Cisse possesses all the ability of a top level striker; fast; strong on the ball and with an eye for goal; the Senegalese international was an instant hit upon joining the German side in January of 2010.

Indeed, Cisse's record in German football speaks for itself. The striker netted 6 times in 16 appearances in his first few months as a Freiburg player. Cisse continued his fine goal scoring form in his first full Bundesliga season, scoring a remarkable 24 goals in 34 games in all competitions.

Cisse celebrates one of his many Freiburg goals

Unsurprisingly, Cisse's fine form in front of goal attracted the attention of clubs across Europe, and he was linked with a number of English clubs - including Newcastle - in last year's summer transfer window.

Despite all the speculation, Cisse remained at the Black Forest club, but his 9 goals in 17 appearances this term have forced Newcastle to pull the trigger on a deal that will lift some of the pressure off Demba Ba's shoulders.

It was certainly a case of humble beginnings for Cisse, who grew up in the Casamance region in southwest Senegal. The striker left home at a relatively young age and moved to the capital Dakar to live with an Uncle in order to pursue his football career.

Cisse spent his youth career with AS Generation Foot, but at the tender age of 18 he was picked up by top division club AS Douanes, where he spent two years before being handed his first big break in the form of a trial with French outfit FC Metz.

A record of 5 goals in 8 games for the reserve team earned him a contract with French side. Cisse enjoyed two productive loan spells AS Cherbourg and Chateauroux before cementing himself as the first choice centre forward at the Ligue 2 club.

Freiburg came knocking following a friendly with Metz at their Badenova-Stadion in which Cisse scored one and set up another in a 2-1 for the Maroons. The Metz hierarchy initially refuted the German outfit's advances, but financial difficulties soon forced them to accept Freiburg's £1.3m offer.

Now Cisse faces his biggest challenge yet, carrying the responsibility of wearing Newcastle United's legendary number 9 jersey, it is something the 26-year-old could never have dreamed of when taking those first steps on the footballing ladder in the Senegalese capital.

In the realm of Newcastle number nines Cisse is certainly more Andy Cole than Andy Carroll, a true poacher, Cisse will hope to benefit from the familiarity he shares with international team mate Ba, if he does so then he will quickly become a popular figure with the Geordie faithful.

Defensive masterclass sees off QPR

It was far from a sparkling display, but Sunday's win over Queens Park Rangers has put Newcastle back in the top six of the Barclays Premier League.

In the end it only took one goal for Newcastle to wrap up all three points, but it was a winning goal of the highest quality as Leon Best netted for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa back in September. Best has been overshadowed on the goal scoring front this campaign by top scorer Demba Ba, but with Ba absent on African Cup of Nations duty, Best was given an opportunity to lead the line and regain his form in front of goal.

The Irish international made no mistake and grasped his chance with both hands, as on 37 minutes he collected Ryan Taylor's lay off on the edge of the area before elegantly knocking the ball past Luke Young and slotting home a cool finish into the bottom corner past Rangers' keeper Paddy Kenny.

Most highlight compilations from the game will show that QPR enjoyed the better chances, but in truth if any team was going to score the game's 2nd goal it was Newcastle. Yes, Mark Hughes' new charges spurned a number of decent opportunities, but in the cold light of day they lacked the cutting edge of a Premier League side and look like a team destined for a struggle against survival. 

This is undoubtedly something that will worry the former Fulham; Man City; Wales and Blackburn boss but for Alan Pardew's Newcastle it meant that they were able to see out the game in remarkably comfortable fashion. 

Danny Guthrie was arguably Newcastle's star man, the midfielder, coming in for the absent Cheick Tiote, used possession efficiently and was composed on the ball throughout. Davide Santon was impressive again at left back, while defensive partners Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson were rarely troubled.

What was perhaps most pleasing for Pardew though was the contribution of Hatem Ben Arfa, who came on midway through the first half for Yohan Cabaye after the former Lille man had sustained minor ligament damage following a rash tackle by Sean Derry. Ben Arfa's introduction sparked a period of Newcastle dominance that eventually led to Best's opener. 

The Rangers' defence struggled to handle the enigmatic Frenchman, as he regularly switched flanks with Jonas Gutierrez in a Magpies' midfield that became drastically more fluid following the former Marseille player's arrival from the substitutes bench.

Indeed, the shape of Newcastle's midfield changed on many occasions throughout the contest, and it is a testament that to the versatility of messrs Guthie; Taylor and James Perch - who was deployed as a holding midfielder late in the 2nd half - that Pardew's side were able to maintain their defensive solidity while allowing Ben Arfa and Gutierrez such freedom to roam.

This wasn't a great Newcastle performance by any stretch of the imagination, but it was one that gives this particular blogger hope that the team can remain in contention for a top six berth minus the sizeable talents of Ba and Tiote. 

Pardew has clearly drilled an ethic of defensive responsibility into every member of his squad, and it is especially important to note that even supposed bad boy Ben Arfa was seen tracking back with increasing frequency on Sunday. That in itself probably tells you all you need to know about the commitment of this Newcastle team.

A late late FA Cup Review: Ben Arfa brilliance sparks Newcastle comeback

Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa celebrates his wonder goal

1-0 down at home to struggling Blackburn Rovers following a 3-0 win over Manchester United, it looked to be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show for Newcastle United.

However, salvation soon arrived, and it came in the form of a truly magical goal from Newcastle's enigmatic Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa, who after collecting the ball just inside the Rovers' half, set off on a mazy run, surging into the area past four players before jinking on to his left foot to fire home an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net from six yards.

It was a magnificent solo effort and it has already been likened to goals scored by the master craftsman that is Barcelona's Lionel Messi. More importantly, the goal leveled the game and gave the Magpies an extra dose of momentum as the contest headed towards its final minutes.

Ben Arfa fires Newcastle level against Blackburn Rovers

Newcastle had to wait until the fourth minute of injury time for their opportunity, but when it came they grasped it with both hands, Jonas Gutierrez driving forward before playing a one-two with Leon Best, the Argentinian then took the return pass from Best in his stride and sent a delicately placed chip over Rovers' keeper Mark Bunn and into the net from a tight angle.

Gutierrez's goal was to be the last action of the match, therefore securing Newcastle's passage into the 4th Round. The result capped a magnificent week for the Magpies and will give Pardew's side added confidence as they head into a run of fixture minus the talents of Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote, who are away of African Cup of Nations duty.

Newcastle will now face a trip to either Brighton Hove Albion or Wrexham, but the more pressing concern is their home game against Queens Park Rangers, who will be under the guidance of new manager Mark Hughes.

The Rangers' players will undoubtedly be out to impress their new boss, but they will have a tough task on their hands with Alejandro Faurlin and Joey Barton both missing due to injury and suspension respectively.

Barton expressed his devastation at missing out on a return to his former club via twitter, but for Pardew and Newcastle his absence removes what would have been an unwanted distraction from another important clash.

Newcastle currently sit in 7th position on 33 points, just seven points shy of the magic 40 point total that virtually guarantees Premier League safety, and with fixtures against Fulham and Blackburn following their clash with QPR, Pardew's side will be confident of reaching that total within the next couple of weeks.

The defence, which had been surprisingly inconsistent in recent weeks, now seems to have rediscovered its solidity, Mike Williamson was extremely impressive in the comfortable victory over Champions Man United, while Davide Santon appears to have secured the left back spot after a string of good displays.

Questions will be asked about whether Newcastle can cope without the talents of Ba and Tiote, and a lot of responsibility may be placed on Mehdi Abeid and Haris Vuckic, who are both now staking a claim for a place in the first team. The good news is that Danny Guthrie, who performed admirably when Tiote was absent through injury earlier in the season, is set to return from injury.

On the attacking front much of the burden will be placed on Shola Ameobi and Leon Best, who have struggled to replicate the goal scoring form of striking partner Demba Ba, however the weight will be lifted if Ben Arfa is able to produce more spectacular moments similar to the mesmerizing goal he scored at the weekend.

Newcastle will need Ben Arfa and others to contribute more consistently in front of goal if they are to continue  to produce results in both League and Cup, should they do so then it will stand them in good stead when Ba and Tiote return for the end of season run in.

Fairly quick reaction: Newcastle United 3-0 Manchester United

Magnifique: Cabaye celebrates scoring Newcastle's 2nd goal

I promised a rapid reaction to this game on my twitter account, but this more fairly quick than it is rapid.

Nonetheless it is a piece that I am going to take much pleasure in writing, having just witnessed Newcastle's finest performance of the season by some distance.

Newcastle responded to their defeat at Anfield in remarkable fashion, comfortably dispatching of Manchester United in what was a memorable night at St James' Park.

Alan Pardew reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, switching from the 4-4-1-1 that proved ineffective against Liverpool. Shola Ameobi came in for Haris Vuckic, while Ryan Taylor was pushed to the right wing in place of Gabriel Obertan, Davide Santon taking Taylor's place at left back.

Newcastle started brightly, and although the visitors had early chances to take the lead, the Magpies soon took command, Demba Ba having a claim for a penalty turned down before making amends for squandering a previous chance by volleying superbly into the top corner after Shola Ameobi had flicked on a Tim Krul goal kick.

The expected backlash from the Champions didn't arrive, and after having chances to go further ahead in the first half, Newcastle doubled their lead early in the second when Phil Jones bundled Ba off the ball illegally, allowing Yohan Cabaye to step up and curl a magnificent 30 yard free-kick which bounced off the underside of the bar and over the line, sending the capacity home crowd into raptures.

Seeking to protect what they had earned, Newcastle sat back and invited the visitors to attack them. On any normal night, this would be a dangerous strategy, but this wasn't a normal night, Sir Alex Ferguson's team lacked verve and creativity and they struggled to break down a steely Newcastle defence.

The Magpies' work rate defined what was a tireless display from Pardew's men, chasing and harrying at every opportunity, they refused to allow the Man United midfield any time on the ball, virtually cutting off the visitors supply line.

On the rare occasions when the Newcastle defence was breached, they proved equal to the task, Danny Simpson clearing off the line when a Wayne Rooney strike trickled its way past Tim Krul.

Rooney was eventually replaced by Brazilian midfielder Anderson, a bemusing substitution given the circumstances, and it had little effect on the game's outcome as Newcastle were able comfortably hold on to their two goal advantage.

There was still time late on for the finishing touches to be applied to a magnificent night for the Magpies, as England international Phil Jones diverted Tim Krul's long goal kick past Anders Lindegaard and into his own net, compounding the visitors' misery and capping off a spectacular victory for Newcastle United.

The victory leaves Newcastle just one point behind Liverpool, and just four points adrift of 4th place Chelsea. A Champions League berth is likely beyond the reach of Pardew's charges, but this emphatic triumph will give them renewed energy and confidence as they look to sustain their European challenge.

Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote will now depart for the African Cup of Nations, and the pair showcased just how much Newcastle will miss them in the coming weeks. Ba continued his rich vein of form with another superbly taken finish and was a menace to the Manchester United back four throughout.

Ivorian Tiote has endured an indifferent campaign but produced a commanding performance in the midfield which helped give Newcastle the foothold they needed to dominate the game.

Still despite the upcoming absence of Ba and Tiote, Newcastle will be looking to collect a good haul of points as they enter a run of fixtures that includes home games against the likes of QPR, Aston Villa and Wolves.

For now though Newcastle will turn their attention to the 3rd Round of the FA Cup and Blackburn Rovers, who the Magpies face at St James Park on Saturday.

The FA Cup is a competition that is dear to the hearts of many Newcastle United fans, and it is one that the club will believe they can win. If they can continue to perform as they did this evening they have a very good chance of doing so.

Newcastle looking to bounce back after abject Anfield display

On the back of an away win, and 1-0 up at Anfield, for a moment there it looked as if Newcastle were going to break their Anfield hoodoo. 

Alas, it was not to be as the Magpies surrendered a quickfire equaliser, Craig Bellamy firing in after Newcastle failed to clear their lines, and then proceeded to concede twice more in the 2nd half, Bellamy profiting from another defensive mix-up by the vistiors before Steven Gerrard broke free to beat Tim Krul at his near post. 

The opening goal and Demba Ba almost levelling the game at 2-2 were the sole bright spots for United on what was another miserable night on Merseyside for the Toon Army. 

However, given the nature of the Premier League festive fixture list, Newcastle must now move on quickly as they face another fearsome foe in Manchester United at St James' Park on Wednesday night. 

It is another fixture in which Newcastle have a pitiful record, they have not beaten Manchester United in a decade.

If Pardew's side are to change that statistic they must improve significantly in the midfield, an area in which they were overrun on Friday night. Cheick Tiote endured another difficult game in what has been, at best an inconsistent campaign for the Ivorian. Wingers Gabriel Obertan and Jonas Gutierrez struggled to provide any sort of service for Demba Ba, while Haris Vuckic looked lost in the supporting role in behind the main striker. 

Yohan Cabaye was perhaps the best of Newcastle's midfielders, but the former Lille man will still be disappointed at the lack of chances created by the midfield four in a game that looked to be there for the taking. 

Pardew will also be keen to ensure that his side do not repeat the defensive mistakes that contributed to their Anfield downfall. In recent weeks the defensive solidity that Newcastle demonstrated in the early stages of the season has deteriorated, and that was evident again on Friday night.

All three of Liverpool's goals were disappointing from a Newcastle standpoint, none more so than Craig Bellamy's second, a free-kick that would have be comfortably saved by Krul had right back Danny Simpson not blocked the Dutchman off after a break down of communication with defensive partner Mike Williamson.

That error was the lowpoint of a terrible evening for Simpson, who along with fellow full back Ryan Taylor, struggled to deal with Liverpool's pace on the flanks. Taylor was eventually replaced at Half Time by Italian Davide Santon. 

Newcastle will undoubtedly be itching to put Friday's result behind them and make a strong start to 2012, and if they can rediscover their early season defensive solidity and provide better service to the free scoring Demba Ba then they have a good chance of doing that against a Manchester United side that travels to the North East on the back of a 3-2 home defeat against Blackburn Rovers.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be the obvious favourites, however with the 50,000 raucous Geordies behind them, Newcastle will believe that they are more capable of making a winning start to the new year.