I played 462 times for Newcastle United but was concerned by players' St James' Park response

Shay Given has revealed his biggest concern at Newcastle United amid a second rocky patch of the 2024/25 season.

This was supposed to be the campaign where the Magpies would get a tilt at the top four as CEO Darren Eales and Eddie Howe vowed to "attack" on the domestic front. With extra time to work on the training field there was talk of pushing for the Champions League again.

But Newcastle - regardless of no European action and extra training time - sit in the bottom half of the table going into tonight's clash against Liverpool. Given, who seen it all during his 12 years on Tyneside, hopes that the players grasp their opportunity against the Reds this evening after witnessing a worrying sight against West Ham.

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Given told Chronicle Live: "We should have done this or that which fans will say, but when that second goal went in against West Ham there was no reaction. St James' Park is a special place to play but the fans need to be off their seats and they (the team) didn't respond at 2-0.

"At Palace it wasn't the best performance so that is probably where the worry and concern is because now you are going in against Liverpool and they are the most in form team in Europe, top of the Champions League and top of the Premier League, Arne Slot can't do no wrong.

"It is a massive game but Newcastle under the lights and if the players are 8/9 out of 10 you never know. This season things haven't lit up yet and the last home game against West Ham you really fancied them.

"I call myself a pundit now or expert in inverted commas! But I had Newcastle down to beat West Ham under the lights 3-0. They had beaten Arsenal and Chelsea and that was the perfect game but it was a real blip, especially when you see West Ham lose their next two.

"It was a chance and we could be sitting here having beaten West Ham and Palace, ifs and buts, in the top four! It's little margins."

Newcastle endured a choker at the end of the clash against Crystal Palace with a late Daniel Munoz goal denying them a victory. Given reflected: "It was frustrating I suppose especially after conceding a late goal when you are 1-0 up. I know Newcastle didn't play great the weekend but sometimes you don't play great away from home, you dig in and grind out a result, it's the sign of a good team.

"You get three points, you get back up the road and you are rocking for Liverpool midweek. It was frustrating in the 94th minute and to concede in that manner too if I am being honest, it's disappointing really.

"Eddie said afterwards it was not their best performance and maybe a draw might have been a fair result but when you are at that stage of the game it feels like a defeat. You have two points snatched away right at the death. That's the frustrating part."

The aftermath of the draw to Palace resulted in some fierce reactions from fans who feel that something is not right at Newcastle.

The long serving goalkeeper told me: "We always used to say it felt like we are either going to win the league or get relegated! There seems to be no middle ground. Middle ground is where Newcastle are at the minute, they are mid-table. There's no European competition this year so that is a little bit disappointing (to be mid-table).

"But when you look at the table in-depth they are just four points off top four and we are still in December at the start. If it's a horse race they are holding on to the reins a bit. I don't think there should be too much doom and gloom."

However, Given feels that a lack of success in the summer transfer market is now starting to shine through as Newcastle head into the long hard winter under Howe.

Given said: "I go back to the summer and we could have signed a couple more players and strengthened. I am sure Eddie and Paul Mitchell have sights on players in January to try to strengthen.

"I know Sven Botman is back running and getting him back will be big. I think trying to push this thing forward is where we are at. I am not saying the hand brake came off but there was huge excitement when the owners came in and we had Champions League last season."

Shay Given is working as a pundit for Prime’s coverage of Newcastle vs. Liverpool on December 4. Prime members can watch festive football on Prime Video at no extra cost, including 20 Premier League matches such as Arsenal v Manchester United and every Boxing Day match – as well as a top UEFA Champions League clash on December 10.