Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Alan Pardew is confident Mike Williamson and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa can deal with the threat of Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge tomorrow lunchtime.

The deadly Liverpool duo have netted 11 goals between them for the Reds, England star Sturridge leading the way with eight goals.

However, after a season of chopping and changing in United’s back four so far, Pardew must now try another combination in the heart of his defence.

Steven Taylor has not recovered from a hamstring problem and will now try to prove his fitness before next weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby, while Fabricio Coloccini has been ruled out of the encounter with Liverpool with a groin injury sustained while on international duty.

Pardew told the Chronicle Yanga-Mbiwa would start the game, and added: “Steven will not be available.

“We think he will train on Monday. He is pretty close. Mapou will play, he came out of this team but he has put in some strong performances so far this club.

“Certainly it takes time to adjust to the Premier League. I remember Coloccini’s first year here.

“Sometimes it takes some adjusting.

“What we have done is give him some solutions to get the best out of him.”

Pardew feels Yanga-Mbiwa has the strength to step back into the team and face Liverpool’s SAS strikeforce.

The ex-Montpellier skipper was last in action during the horror show that was the first half against Everton.

Pardew said: “You are looking for a bit of character in a player. We have seen that in him.

“He is a player with tremendous pace.

“He has to utilise that.

“If he can do that, he is going to be a massive asset for us.”

Yanga-Mbiwa was also backed by Pardew to justify his big-money move from France’s Ligue 1 last January.

The Toon boss added: “We paid a lot of money for Mapou.

“We are hoping he can get Premier League football in a short period of time.

“He is growing as a player and he will get better.”