Premier League preview: Newcastle v Liverpool

Liverpool must turn around their worst run of form of the season if they are to beat Newcastle on Sunday and continue the fight for sixth.

The Reds trail sixth-placed Newcastle by eight points on the table after back-to-back losses to relegation-threatened QPR and Wigan in the past week, with manager Kenny Dalglish admitting he had ‘no answers’ for the inconsistent form.

Dalglish’s side have now lost five of their past six EPL matches; the only respite was a 3-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby two weeks ago.

But with an FA Cup semi-final against their city rivals coming up in mid-April, the Reds will want to turn around their results quickly.

That could happen as soon as Sunday at the Sports Direct Arena, and former Newcastle player Jose Enrique said the club were determined to improve.

“In the cups we are doing well; in the league I think we deserve more than where we are now,” he told Liverpoolfc.tv. “But the truth is we are in seventh position.

“We have played good football in many games but against Wigan (on Saturday) we didn’t deserve to win.

“This team is in production. The owners have signed young players. I think we have a really good squad already but of course we have to improve – everyone.

“The manager takes pressure for us and of course that is good. But the truth is, when we make mistakes or have a bad game, we know where the mistakes come from. Who plays the games? The players. Who has to win them? The players too.

“The players are frustrated just the same (as the fans).”

Conversely it has been a dream season for Alan Pardew’s Newcastle, who are genuine contenders for a European berth just two seasons after being promoted from the Championships.

The signing of strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse has proved inspired, while the return of winger Hatem Ben Arfa from injury has added another string to their bow.

Both sides do have some injury concerns heading into Sunday’s match, however.

Charlie Adam, Martin Kelly, Glen Johnson, Craig Bellamy and Daniel Agger are all on the casualty list for Liverpool, while Fabricio Coloccini, Cheick Tiote and Ryan Taylor are in doubt for the home side.