The Newcastle United legend has called on the players to turn their season around in the final weeks of the campaign
Alan Shearer believes Newcastle deserved their hammering following the loss to Sunderland(Image: Getty Images)
Alan Shearer has urged Newcastle United’s players to step up, admitting they have been miles off the levels they reached last season. Eddie Howe’s side have been unable to match last year’s heights, when they finished fifth and secured a Champions League place.
They currently sit 12th, seven points off fifth‑placed Liverpool, and with only seven games remaining, a late push for Europe looks unlikely – especially with Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa all competing in that bracket.
Prior to the international break, Newcastle were rocked by a 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland. Shearer agreed the team deserved their ‘hammering’ and believes that feeling has lingered, with them heading into Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (2pm), questioning whether they will come away with the win.
“Newcastle have been hammered after their performance and result against Sunderland, and rightly so,” the Newcastle icon, Shearer told BetFair. “That will hurt them and it will stick with them until they play them again.
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“But I always say you get the chance to reply as a player, and they have to come out and reply not only this weekend but next weekend as well because they’ve been miles off it in terms of their league campaign this year.
“I can’t say with any huge confidence that they can go there and get the three points. I think I’ll sit on the fence and say they’ll get a point.
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“Crystal Palace will be tough. They’ve had an up and down season as well, particularly after last season. But they’ve got some really talented players in there, Crystal Palace. So, I’m going to say a draw.”
Howe has come under pressure, and missing out on Europe would also limit their spending power. The likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali have already been linked with moves away as a result.
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When asked if he was under scrutiny for not getting Europe this term, Howe said: “I’m not sure the pressure necessarily can increase, I think were under pressure regardless to perform, to win.
“I don’t think it’s healthy to heap more pressure on the players; they just have to play free. But of course, they know they are under pressure to perform and to win, and I‘m under pressure to get results, so I think it’s unhealthy to look at it that way.
“For me, we’ve just got to try to focus on being at our best against Crystal Palace and then the next game, the next game. Of course, we know the long-term target is Europe, and there are financial implications if we don’t hit that.”