Pardew Says Liverpool Have Better Options

Last updated : 21 January 2012 By Footy Mad - Editor

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Cabaye is set to miss this afternoon’s game at Fulham after injuring his ankle and Pardew will look to Mehdi Abeid or Dan Gosling to fill the void.

New capture Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba will make their African Cup of Nations bow tonight as their tournament opens with a game against Zambia.

And Pardew wants his other forwards – including Hatem Ben Arfa and Leon Best – to make their mark in West London.

Alan Pardew: “We have other assets who need to do the business on Saturday,” the Magpies manager said. “We are in a position now where if we can keep ticking over until that period (when Cisse and Ba return) then we will see what we can do.


“Leon Best scoring a goal (against Fulham) was massively important – as important as anything this season. He has done well this season but needed a goal. And in Ben Arfa we have a players where the penny is dropping as to what he needs to do.

“He was brilliant when he came on against QPR.”

“We are going to find some negative agendas and we need to be on our guard. It is a compliment in a way but we have to be able to overcome it.

“On Sunday versus QPR we struggled at times, we gave the ball up cheaply. That was because of the opposition. I don't think we will get that at Fulham.

"They don't play that way. Later in the season hopefully, it is a good sign when teams do that, but we have to deal with it.

"Look at the team below us - Liverpool.

“They have Kuyt and Carroll who could start. They can put Suarez on. Or change it and play Bellamy somewhere else. That is what they have. They can play Gerrard and Bellamy behind. That is what top teams have.

“We have players now where we can change it when you need someone different to find that goal.”