New boss out to impress Newcastle United fans

Newcastle United's new manager Alan Pardew will look to get his reign at St James' Park off to a glorious start with a win against Liverpool.

The Toon fans have endured a miserable last seven days, seeing their side lose to West Bromwich Albion, their much-liked manager Chris Hughton shown the door and Pardew, who was not a favoured choice among the Geordie faithful, given a five-and-a-half year deal as the new boss.

Newcastle are on a poor run and have won only two points from the last 15 available and their record at St James' Park is second only to Blackpool as the worst – they have collected only nine points from eight games in front of their own fans.

Pardew should welcome back captain Kevin Nolan for his first game, while fellow midfielders Joey Barton and Danny Guthrie are facing a race against the clock to be fit for the game that Newcastle are 13/5 to get all three points from.

Central defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson are both completing the final game of their three-match bans, meaning the duo of Steven Taylor and Sol Campbell will replace them.

Liverpool will have Fernando Torres, 9/2 to be first goalscorer, back among their ranks after he missed their win last time out against Aston Villa to be at the birth of his second child, though captain Steven Gerrard remains out along with Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher.

The visitors have their own struggles, especially on the road, where Roy Hodgson's team have lost five of their eight Premier League matches away from Anfield this season and won only two of their last 17 in total – and they are 11/10 to ruin Pardew's big day by getting the win.

All of the focus on this game is going to be on the home dugout and how Pardew motivates a team full of individuals who were behind Hughton and saddened to see their old gaffer leave in such circumstances.

Pardew needs to get them united and playing as a team again quickly if he is to make a great first impression on the doubting St James' Park faithful with a win in his opening game.

It has been a tough week on Tyneside and three points from a game that was always going to be sturdy challenge for Newcastle could lift some of the doom and gloom currently over the club.