Alan Shearer Exclusive: Newcastle must forget Barca embarrassment and beat Sunderland | OneFootball

Newcastle's result against Barcelona was embarrassing in the end

Defensively, I thought for 90 minutes in the first game at St James' Park Newcastle were more than a match for Barcelona. Obviously as we said at St James' we were just looking to go away with a win but it was not to be. And then for 45 minutes they more than competed in the Nou Camp, but they just made too many errors defensively. Even in the first half when they played well, in forward positions they got two good goals, bounced back from two disappointments.

But then in the second half, I thought what Hansi Flick did in terms of reacting to Newcastle's man-marking, going man-for-man, what he did at half time and changed the players in forward positions and allowing runners to go in behind, I thought that completely changed the game and they battered Newcastle in the second half. You can't make that many mistakes in any game of football, let alone Barcelona away against those types of players.

It was a bit of an embarrassing scoreline in the end, for a game and a half, I thought they could hold their heads high but ultimately, it's about getting through to the next round and Barcelona did that with ease in the end.

I thought yesterday's performance for Newcastle was probably typical of what's happened this season. Consistently inconsistent. That's what Newcastle have been. They were really good defensively in the first leg, really good against Chelsea on Saturday, yet defensively hopeless against Barcelona on Wednesday. And that's happened so many times where you think, ok, a couple of good results, here we go, it's now time to kick on. Then that happens again and it has happened so many times this season. Most of the time it's been defensively where they've been found out and been too open and made too many errors.

Three points in the derby is the only thing that will keep the Geordie people happy

If you wanted a game to bounce back it would be this one against Sunderland, particularly with the way their game went at the Stadium Of Light. So, it's a huge game, they've picked up a little bit in the league, they're above Sunderland in the league and that has to stay that way. I don't think anything other than three points on Sunday would keep the Geordie people happy.

I've sampled the derby from both angles. I've sampled it as a fan and as a player. I used to walk from my house to St James's Park when it was New Year's Day or Boxing Day when there was no transport many, many years ago. I've also sampled it as a player, both the good and the bad. They're only great days if you win. They're great days to look forward to. The anticipation, the excitement and the build-up and all of those things that go with it.

But then you turn into game mode as a player, and you can't lose. Newcastle have lost one already this season. So, you can imagine the reaction if Newcastle don't win this game.

Sunderland have had a brilliant season by their own standards. For large parts of it, they've been above Newcastle. They're not now, and that has to stay that way after this weekend.

Newcastle now have the chance to make sure that they do finish above Sunderland in the league. That's why they have to win. Sunderland beat us at their place. I mean, it was a pretty drab game. It was an incredible own goal by Nick Woltemade. But they won it ultimately and I think for large parts of the season, Sunderland have been pretty solid. And that's been what they've built their season on.

A lot of their new signings have done well, particularly Granit Xhaka, who's back in the team. You can tell when he's not in, they've missed him, he's been a brilliant signing for them. And I think they've been really competitive, and I don't see anything different from them on Sunday.

They'll be competitive, they'll be tough to beat, they'll be compact and tight, and they'll be hoping to hit Newcastle on the break.

Newcastle have to open them up and they must win this game. Anything other than winning it would be a disaster.

It is huge for the bragging rights in the city. Newcastle have been clinging on to Champions League football and rightly so because it's been a great experience again for them to play in some of the huge games. Sunderland can only dream of that. Newcastle have had that but that has gone for them this season now.

Sunderland beat Newcastle earlier in the season and that cannot happen again.

A lot of the Bruno Guimaraes transfer talk is rubbish

Newcastle have to get through the season. They have to somehow get European football, whether that's Europa League or whether that's the Conference League. They have to somehow get European football. I guess it's been happening for the last two months. I've seen the reports myself now on Bruno Guimaraes. I also know that a lot of the reports are rubbish.

If Newcastle don't qualify for European football, then the noise around their top players will only get louder and then it becomes difficult not only to keep your top players, but also then it becomes difficult to bring top players in because top players want European football. So that's going to happen more and more between now and the end of the season. If there's any truth in it, I haven't got a clue, but that will happen if Newcastle don't get European football.

That's the same for most clubs but obviously with Newcastle, that's what happens when you have a little taste of success. If that doesn't continue, then that's when the transfer talk will happen. There's no difference to anyone else. It's the same at Tottenham, it's the same at Man United, it's the same at Villa. Villa will have the same issues as well, there'll be talk about Morgan Rogers.

If Arsenal win the Carabao Cup, then the Quadruple is seriously on

If Arsenal win the Carabao Cup, the quadruple is seriously on. And it's a big if because it's a huge game, a huge game for both clubs because this probably is City's last chance in terms of the silverware. It's a huge game for both clubs but yeah, If Arsenal win this one, then the talk will intensify of winning four trophies, which clearly has never been done before.

There is pressure on both clubs and pressure for different reasons. The talk about this being Pep's last season. Man City have been nowhere near what they've been in the past in terms of their defence. They've given so many opportunities away which was summed up the other night against Real Madrid.

It'll be a highly charged game. There'll be plenty of excitement. There'll be a bit of bite in the game as well because of obvious reasons. But I'm really looking forward to the game. It should be a great Sunday with Newcastle kicking off early and then the Cup final as well. So yeah, it'll be amazing.

If City don't win a trophy this season, I think Pep will stay on for another year

Well, Pep will decide when or if he wants to leave. If it ends disappointingly this season, then my guess is because he's such a winner, he wouldn't want to go out on a disappointing season. He'd want to go out on something spectacular. So, my feeling is, and it's only a feeling and a guess, is that if they're not successful at all this season, I think he might go on for another year.

Bruno Fernandes and Declan Rice have to be the Player Of The Season front runners

Gabriel has been superb for long periods this season and has had to be. I think two outstanding candidates also would be Declan Rice and Bruno Fernandes.

Man United have been through everything this season but Bruno seems to have been the shining light and God knows where they'd be without him. He's been a fantastic player for them. I just think because of how painful it's been for Man United at times, he's been the one constant in terms of performances and attitude and everything else. I mean, he might rub one or two people up the wrong way, but I think in terms of performances, he's been absolutely outstanding. And there's no doubt he's been the pick of the bunch for Manchester United for such a long time now.

However, with Declan Rice, the way he's dragged Arsenal through games as well. I think it depends on what will happen in terms of teams winning. If Arsenal were to win the treble or even the quadruple or a double, depending on what that double may be, then it would probably have to be an Arsenal player, and Rice has been one of the standouts.

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Liverpool are still a force to be reckoned with in the Champions League

If Liverpool don't progress in the Champions League, then questions around inconsistency are going to be asked again. How can they turn it on against Galatasaray like that with the intensity, energy, the pace and all of those things, yet not do the same in so many Premier League games. That's going to be the big question.

But whilst they're still in the competition, they're still a force because of who and what they are, and they can put in a one-off performance against anyone.

That would be the big question that their fans will ask, but they'll be absolutely delighted to get to the quarter-finals and another brilliant tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

The one players that has been the shining light for Liverpool this season is Dominik Szoboszlai. There's no doubt about how good he is. What Bruno Fernandes has done for Man United, I think Szoboszlai has done for Liverpool. He's been outstanding. He's scored some crucial goals alongside his energy and attitude. Whereas many have fallen below standards that they've set in the past, he's actually gone above and has been an outstanding player for Liverpool.

Whoever loses between Spurs and Forest on Sunday will be relegated

Spurs got a really good result at Liverpool last week and deservedly got a point. Out of small crumbs you get a little bit of confidence. The result last week and the result on Wednesday, albeit they went out of the Champions League, and it wasn't enough to get them through, I think the bigger picture for Spurs is just surviving this season.

They'll take great confidence from that, and it should set them up nicely for their home game against Nottingham Forest. But in those games, I guess they had no real pressure because most people thought they were going to go out. But the pressure intensifies at the weekend against Nottingham Forest. Having said that, the confidence and the belief they should take from the last two games should set them up nicely and it'll be really interesting to see what happens at the weekend.

It's highly likely whoever loses between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest on Sunday will be relegated this season. That's what's at stake for the loser. Whoever loses at the weekend, there's a massive chance that they're going to be relegated.

Rosenior has to get Champions League football to stay as Chelsea boss

I think for Rosenior to still be on charge of Chelsea next season all depends on if they get into the top four or top five. I think it's pretty simple. I think he was appointed for a reason. After what happened last season and in the summer with them winning the Club World Cup, I think it's clear that their objectives are to secure Champions League football and if that doesn't happen, then very much like Liverpool, you would fear the worst for Rosenior

Stuff like that huddle last week does not help him. It was pretty embarrassing for everyone. I guess, for the referee, he probably couldn't do anything about it. It was really embarrassing for Chelsea's players and then Rosenior's comments afterwards where he said they wanted to respect the ball. Yeah, it was all baffling and nonsense.