Ba in line for Anfield

Demba Ba could feature against Liverpool on Sunday, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has hinted.

The 27-year-old netted the opening goal of the match against West Brom, which the Magpies won 2-1, but he had to be replaced by Shola Ameobi in the second half.

However, Pardew remains enthusiastic about the striker’s chances of recovering in time for the trip to Anfield and expressed confidence over his squad depth regardless.

“Demba has a knock but he still has a good chance,” he told reporters.

“He will come into my thinking tomorrow. If he doesn’t play we can still win.”

The Tyneside outfit have failed to post a victory at Anfield since 1994, a record that Pardew attributes to the ground’s special atmosphere.

“This side have only been once,” he said.

“Going to Anfield can be emotional. It is such an emotional start (in reference to the You’ll Never Walk Alone anthem).

“You can get wrapped up in it. We need to play the game.”

The 51-year-old agreed that the two clubs also share similar targets this season, but thinks that the Merseyside outfit have more pressure on them due to their past achievements.

“We are two clubs very similar at the moment,” he said.

“There is more pressure (on them) because of what they won. But both of us have ambitions of top six or top four.”