Alan Shearer raises concerns over Newcastle duo ahead of Liverpool test

29 December 2023 , 18:10

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Alan Shearer raises concerns over Newcastle duo ahead of Liverpool test

Alan Shearer claims Sven Botman and Dan Burn "looked miles off" as they returned for Newcastle last time out.

The Magpies are in the midst of a losing run that has seen them beaten in six of their last seven outings. Nottingham Forest were the latest side to see them off with their former striker Chris Wood bagging a hat-trick.

Newcastle had a trusted back four - that featured Botman and Burn - throughout last season. It helped them have one of the league's best defences but Shearer was concerned by their performances with a game at Liverpool to come in a matter of days.

The Newcastle great told the Rest is Football: “Botman has come back and Dan Burn has come back and they didn’t look anywhere near fit. They looked two yards short of what they normally are. Eddie went back to his trusted back four - Trippier, Schar, Botman and Dan Burn - which has been really successful for him over the past 18 months or so.

"He went back to that but those two in particular didn’t look anywhere near fit. It’s difficult, unless you are inside the training ground you haven’t a clue what’s going on, but looking at them on the pitch they looked miles off.”

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Newcastle have been well beaten at the likes of Everton and Tottenham this month with Kieran Trippier, another member of their trusted defence, enduring a massive dip in form that has seen him heavily criticised. He's been personally responsible for goals and has even called out his own performances.

Newcastle's defence was breached three times against Nottingham Forest

He said: “We know we can do better. The standards we set throughout the last 18 months, we have come away from them a little bit in the last few games. My standards have dropped and my own performances have been nowhere near recently. I won’t shy away from it.

“I have had a lot of setbacks in my career and this is just another one where I need to keep going and keep believing. I have always got that belief to bounce back. It is a lot of games and being in Europe has been a challenge for the club. The majority of the players are not used to playing in the Champions League and it’s been a challenge for the team."

Samuel Meade