Newcastle boss John Carver eager to test himself at historic Anfield

John Carver is looking forward to taking his side to Anfield and insists Newcastle will do they all they can to come away with an unlikely three points on Monday Night Football.

Newcastle head into the game off the back of a fifth successive defeat to rivals Sunderland, while Liverpool notched a morale-boosting win over Blackburn in midweek to progress to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Newcastle have not won a league game at Anfield in the last 21 fixtures between the two sides but Carver is not fazed by the challenge of winning at a ground he says is steeped in history.

“It is a great place to go,” said the Newcastle interim head coach.

“Manchester United have just been there and won, they had a difficult situation against Arsenal, they had an FA Cup game against Blackburn on a difficult surface.

"They are in the semi-final of the cup and still have a chance, in my opinion, of finishing in the top four, because they have got so many good players.

"Anfield - the history of football, for me, is Anfield. If you don't want to go there and have a go, then don't be a professional footballer."

Anfield - the history of football, for me, is Anfield. If you don't want to go there and have a go, then don't be a professional footballer.

Carver admitted the performance in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light was unacceptable, adding he expects his side to show endeavour and fighting spirit against Liverpool

"Maybe I need to change the team to start with. Maybe I need to change a few positions of one or two players, and hope that sparks something.

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"That will be about characters too. Going to Anfield you are going to need characters. I want to see some energy. I didn't see energy last weekend. We talked about out working the opposition. They out-worked us again."

Energetic midfielder Moussa Sissoko had an unusually quiet game on Wearside, where he deputised for the suspended Fabricio Coloccini. But Carver praised the former Toulouse man, hinting that he is likely to wear the armband once again with Coloccini serving the last game of his three-match ban.

"The captain is your leader, and what you don't see is he is excellent with the French guys, added Carver. “He keeps them in check, he is the enforcer, which is good.

"Sometimes you give extra responsibilities to players and they thrive, sometimes they freeze. I have seen him have excellent games as captain – Arsenal - but he had one of his quieter games against Sunderland."

Watch Newcastle take on Liverpool at Anfield on Monday Night Football - coverage starts on Sky Sports 1 at 7:00pm.