Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and, inset, Virgil van Dijk lines up ahead of Liverpool's game against Newcastle United at St James' Park earlier this month
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and, inset, Virgil van Dijk lines up ahead of Liverpool's game against Newcastle United at St James' Park earlier this month
Dan Burn has revealed that opposition players know how Geordies play a 'huge part' at St James' Park after Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk saw Newcastle United 'feed' off the crowd.
Newcastle have produced some of their best performances at home against the big hitters this season. The Magpies have defeated Arsenal, knocked Chelsea out of the cup, gone toe-to-toe with league leaders Liverpool and earned a deserved point against Manchester City before the champions' subsequent collapse.
Following Liverpool's 3-3 draw at St James' earlier this month, van Dijk spoke about how Newcastle have something 'extra' at home. Van Dijk 'doesn't know what happens to them', but the Dutchman took note of how 'the fans feed them, they win their challenges and the fans feed off that as well'.
St James' is sure to be bouncing once again when Arsenal rock up for the second-leg of the teams' Carabao Cup semi-final clash in February. It had been Eddie Howe's preference to play the return fixture at home and Dan Burn has backed Newcastle 'against anyone' over two legs.
"After the Liverpool game here earlier this month, Virgil van Dijk commented in the press on how much our crowd lifts us when we play at home...opposition players know how much of a huge part you play in our performance," the Newcastle defender wrote in his programme notes ahead of the quarter-final win against Brentford. "When you're loud and lively and pushing us on, we play better."
Newcastle have only won once at the Emirates - way back in 2010 - but the black-and-whites have triumphed in three of their last four home games against Arsenal, including a 1-0 victory last month.