Liverpool welcome Newcastle to Anfield in 2011's final match, with both squads barely on the outside looking in at the European places. Tomorrow's guests rode a hot start to the season to the top three, going unbeaten in their first eleven matches and surprising everyone after expectations were low entering the campaign.

By FRANCO PANIZO

A week after enduring one of his worst performances of the season, Clint Dempsey responded in a big way.

Dempsey lifted Fulham to victory over Bolton Wanderes on Saturday, scoring a goal and assisting on another in the 2-0 affair. Dempsey found the back of the net with a well-placed header before sending Costa Rican teammate Bryan Ruiz in on goal with a nifty pass.

When we saw those tweets from Joey Barton earlier in the week, our first question was why he keeps stirring things up from the past again. Alan Pardew waves to Geordie fans after Man City game After all Joey no longer plays for Newcastle, and it was well documented that he dislikes Mike Ashley and Derek LLambias, and that's being kind about how to describe the relationship.

When we saw those tweets from Joey Barton earlier in the week, our first question was why he keeps stirring things up from the past again. Alan Pardew waves to Geordie fans after Man City game After all Joey no longer plays for Newcastle, and it was well documented that he dislikes Mike Ashley and Derek LLambias, and that's being kind about how to describe the relationship.

Kevin Nolan has admitted the obvious that Newcastle are not exactly missing him this season. Kevin Nolan - while at Newcastle Kevin was immediately appointed captain when he joined west Ham in the summer for around 4.5M, and joined up again with Sam Aallrduce, whome he had played for at Bolton Wanderers.

Kevin Nolan has admitted the obvious that Newcastle are not exactly missing him this season. Kevin Nolan - while at Newcastle Kevin was immediately appointed captain when he joined west Ham in the summer for around 4.5M, and joined up again with Sam Aallrduce, whome he had played for at Bolton Wanderers.

Well, Joey Barton did promise on Twitta that he would "tell all when the time was right" and he's finally kept his word. Speaking in a long audio podcast interview for the Queen's Park Ranger's 'blog "Open All R's," he finally lifted the lid on his time at Newcastle United and his strained relationship with [.

• Michael Carrick and @rioferdy5 are still class :

Yesterday, a certain Michael Carrick showed us why Fergie still has him in the team. Inside that calm exterior, Carrick showed so much character and with his silken one touch and switch of play kept the tight Newcastle defence on their toes.

The Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini has talked today about his potential new contract, his manager Alan Pardew and playing in Europe. Fab Coloccini wants to play in Europe with Newcastle We think it would be big shock if Coloccini doesn't sign a contract extension at Newcastle, but with Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton both having left the club this year because of contract difficulties, we cannot be absolutely [.

Once you break a habit, it's very difficult to go back to the way things were. Occasions where you were coasting along like it was second nature suddenly seem like uncharted territory. Every step is a challenge involving multiple thoughts, anxious moments and uncertain decisions. Ever since we were hammered 6-1 at Old Trafford on the blackest day in our recent memory, our form has displayed the sort of scratchy incompetence of a broken habit.

Ben Arfa has declined the request from Nigel de Jong, that he would come over and meet with the Frenchman before tomorrow's game at Newcastle's hotel. Nigel de Jong - in action against former skipper Kevin Nolan But Alan Pardew has stepped in and said it's okay meeting with the Dutchman, but only after the game, not before, so that presumably is [.

Alan Pardew has had some amazing success this season and it's an open question if his side can keep high up in the Premier League. Alan Pardew - kept the same defense in the league Pardew has had that success even after seeing three of his top players, captain Kevin Nolan, Jose Enrique and Joey Barton leave Newcastle in the summer, as Andy Carroll had done in January, when he left [.

Newcastle have found their Moyes, but Ashley won't hold onto him

Why Wembley fans must not boo young Lions against Spain Why Stoke's humiliation gave me the giggles Mike Ashley's grin must by be almost as wide as his waist. Despite the stick he took for letting Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan go, and refusing to spend the Andy Carroll cash, Newcastle have made an incredible start to the season, which must lead him to believe he's now a footballing genius.

Mike Ashley certainly has an impeccable sense of timing. Whenever Newcastle are going well the club's owner always seems to cause unnecessary disruption and incur further wrath from the supporters.
His latest act is to rename the club's home – St James' Park – the Sports Direct Arena, after his own company.

Newcastle resident Ronan Quinn on one of the eleven that may start versus the States

Cabaye's made a splash already this year by the Tyneside...

TSG's USA vs. France Preview

With the likes of Andy Carroll, Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan and José Enrique all sold since January, many worried about Newcastle's prospects of survival in the Premier League.

Newcastle United kept up their unbeaten run with a 2-1 win over Everton. That's eleven matches already and tongues are complimentary at the prowess of Alan Pardew in building a solid team spirit in spite of losing Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Joey Barton in the summer. The Magpies remain the only other team yet to be beaten this season.

Raise your hand if you thought Newcastle would be unbeaten heading into November in the Premier League. No one, including Newcastle's own players thought they would be doing so well after the first ten games of the season. Newcastle is one of only two unbeaten teams in the league and they trail second place Manchester United by just one point and first place Manchester City by only six.

Click HERE to listen
This is episode 2 in our series as excitement builds ahead of the playoff clash with Estonia. On this epsiode, two dedicated Irish supporters join us to give their views.
We have John from YBIG.ie, a Raheny man looking forward to jetting off to Tallinn.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has delivered a clear message to the club's faithful that despite a lean financial plan, he is aiming to bring a trophy to the cabinet at St. James' Park within the next two years.

Pardew, who arrived at Tyneside to a somewhat pessimistic response when he replaced fan favorite Chris Hughton last season, has followed up brilliantly on his vow to build on the foundation built by his predecessor.

Newcastle v Tottenham: Champions League Qualification A Step Too Far? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Newcastle United as the race for fourth spot in the Premier League heats up. The Magpies have enjoyed a promising start to the season and sit proudly where the London club is desperate to be.

He's come a long way since he joined the ranks of Newcastle United as a £10.3M Centre Back under the control of Kevin Keegan. It's probably debateable whether Keegan even wanted him in, but I don't remember there being too much dissent when he transferred. We all knew of him through his days playing for [.

After the comings and goings of the 'off season', some of them obvious,, predictable, profitable and manufactured, it's safe to say we now have a far more fluid midfield. On top of the fuidity, we have also aquired a hell of a lot more pace. We seem very midfield focused at the moment, what with [...

Alan Pardew had mentioned at the beginning of the season that he had given the job of maintaining the good team spirit at Newcastle to his Assistant Manager John Carver. Carver and Pardew - two coaches at the top And we were all just a little worried that with Kevin Nolan having left the club, the great spirit of the last two seasons may be in jeopardy [.

Fabricio Coloccini has praised the strong spirit within the in-form Newcastle United squad but admits that tougher times will reveal more about the team's character.

The Magpies are unbeaten after seven rounds of Premier League football and to the surprise of many pundits, they currently sit fourth in the table behind only the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea.

Speaking in a rare interview, Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, bemoaned the loss of experienced players such as Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton from the side in games like yesterday's against Wolves. He also added that Newcastle United still need to learn to see out games. Of course, Newcastle chalked up their fourth win of [.

Speaking in a rare interview, Newcastle United manager, Alan Pardew, bemoaned the loss of experienced players such as Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton from the side in games like yesterday's against Wolves. He also added that Newcastle United still need to learn to see out games. Of course, Newcastle chalked up their fourth win of [.

Senegalese hitman Demba Ba got off the mark for the season in style against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend, hitting a hat-trick at St. James's Park in a near-perfect performance for both him and the Magpies as a whole in front of their home crowd.

Andy Carroll's shock departure last winter, along with fellow starts Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton also leaving Tyneside this summer, has left the supporters in want of another high-profile goal getter who can propel them to higher ambitions.

Most of you will be aware by now that yesterday, Newcastle United's Managing Director, Derek Llambias, issued a statement on the club's performance in the latest transfer window. It read: "Now that the transfer window has closed, we have had some time to reflect on the business we have conducted over the summer.

Alan Shearer doesn't see Newcastle owner Mike Ashley changing his frugal ways at Newcastle anytime soon. Alan Shearer that's how Ashley operates The net spending at the club over the summer was a big net zero, with these permanent ins and outs at the club: OUT Sol Campbell released Shefki Kuqi released Kevin Nolan £4.

When Andy Carroll left Newcastle United back in January the fans were told that all of the £35 million would be invested in players. Here are the players we've signed since then:

• Yohann Cabaye (around £5 mil)
• Demba Ba (Free transfer)
• Silvain Marveaux (Free transfer)
• Mehdi Abeid (Free transfer)
• Davide Santon (Undisclosed thought to be about £5 million)
• Gabriel Obertan (£3 million)
• Rob Elliot (Thought to be around £250k)

In that same time period, we have let go or sold the following players:

• Sol Campbell (Free)
• Sheki Kuqi (Free)
• Kevin Nolan (£4.

Mike Ashley and the Newcastle United board asked fans to judge them on 1st September after all of their transfers had been done. Well it's the 1st and I think I speak for Newcastle fans across the nation, when I say that Mike Ashley and the rest of his henchman are guilty of nothing but time wasting, negligence and parsimony.

Sell Luka Modric to Chelsea and give me the funds to spend on new players, Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp muttered under his breath a fortnight ago. A move which could have secured the signings of multiple long-term targets and inevitably defined our forthcoming season.

Spurs have retained a midfielder with undoubted quality, but no matter how hard Modric tries to forget about his dream move to Chelsea, he wouldn't be human if he wasn't feeling some bitterness toward a club he will be playing for each Saturday in front of a leaky defence.

Joey Barton: QPR Sign Player from Newcastle on Free Transfer - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Queens Park Rangers have pulled off something of a major coup after Joey Barton was snapped up on a free transfer from Newcastle United. The midfielder had had surprisingly announced the move on Twitter late on Wednesday night and now he looks set to make his debut for QPR on September 12, against his old team Newcastle.

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has assured the club's fans that at least two more players are poised to arrive at Tyneside over the next week as QPR-bound midfielder Joey Barton prepares to follow Jose Enrique out of St. James' Park.

The Magpies also lost former skipper Kevin Nolan earlier in the summer and Barton's impending departure means that Pardew desperately needs to bolster the squad despite his side's impressive start to the season.

There has been news in the papers recently from Kevin Nolan, that he'd love to see Joey Barton at West Ham. Joey Barton - Pardew says it's up to him But Joey has said many times before that he wants to remain playing in the Premier League, and of course he can do that with [...]

There has been news in the papers recently from Kevin Nolan, that he'd love to see Joey Barton at West Ham. Joey Barton - Pardew says it's up to him But Joey has said many times before that he wants to remain playing in the Premier League, and of course he can do that with [...]

In a Mirror 'exclusive', former Newcastle captain, Kevin Nolan, has urged his former partner in crime, Joey Barton, to join Sam Allardyce's 'sexy football' revolution at West Ham. Nolan said: "Would Joey Barton come here? Well, I came here, so I can't see why Joey Barton would not come, it is a massive club.

In a Mirror 'exclusive', former Newcastle captain, Kevin Nolan, has urged his former partner in crime, Joey Barton, to join Sam Allardyce's 'sexy football' revolution at West Ham. Nolan said: "Would Joey Barton come here? Well, I came here, so I can't see why Joey Barton would not come, it is a massive club.

What are the odds Sunderland call the Toon in the North-East derby? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

It's the North-East derby, and as big-time derbies go it's right up there with Terence Trent. It's a noon start, so there's less time to get boozed up before kick-off, although Joey Barton says he'll do his best.

It was shaping up to be a packed weekend, with some interesting EPL matchups and the start of the La Liga season in Spain. But alas, Spanish football is still in shambles, with the players on strike over unpaid wages. Hopefully that will be resolved over the coming week so that we'll see those interesting fixtures next weekend.