JAMAAL LASCELLES expects Newcastle United to play “on the front foot” in this weekend’s game at Liverpool, and is confident the Magpies will avoid relegation provided they maintain the standards they have set in their last two games.

Rafael Benitez’s side have been accused of ‘parking the bus’ in a number of their matches against top-six opposition this season, but there was a marked change of mind-set as they adopted a much more positive approach in this month’s game with Manchester United.

The result was a 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s side, and while Liverpool might boast one of the most potent attacks in the country, Lascelles is urging his team-mates to take the game to their opponents when they travel to Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool might have scored four goals against West Ham at the weekend, taking their tally for the season to 65 goals in 28 league games, but Lascelles feels Newcastle’s current form means they are capable of matching Jurgen Klopp’s side blow-for-blow.

“We’ll be working hard in the next few days and focusing our preparation for the game,” said the Magpies skipper. “It’s a tough game, but I definitely think we can beat them.

“Okay, we were quite disappointed with the result the other day (at Bournemouth), but the way we’ve been playing against Man United and Bournemouth, our confidence is really high. We’re going to be on the front foot against Liverpool.”

With ten minutes of Saturday’s game at Bournemouth remaining, Newcastle were occupying a position in the top half of the table.

By the time goals from Adam Smith and Dan Gosling pegged them back to a 2-2 draw, they were sitting in 15th, just two points clear of the relegation zone.

With Saturday’s game at Anfield not kicking off until 5.30pm, four of the teams below Newcastle in the table will have kicked off before they get a chance to play.

With two of them playing each other – Southampton host Stoke City at St Mary’s – things will have tightened up even more by the time the Magpies kick off against Liverpool, but Lascelles remains confident he will be preparing for another nine months in the Premier League next season rather than having to contemplate a return to the second tier.

He was proud to spearhead last season’s successful title triumph, and feels the optimism and positivity that was generated last term has been carried over into the current campaign.

He attributes much of that upbeat attitude to Rafael Benitez, and clearly enjoys a close bond with the Spaniard, who handed him the captain’s armband at an early stage of his St James’ Park reign.

“Since the manager has been here, the club has been on the rise and the city has been really upbeat,” said Lascelles. “Things have been really going well, so we are going to try to keep it that way. At the minute, we are playing really good football.

“We wish we were in a better position than we are, but there are still ten games left and the way we are playing, I think we are going to be more than safe. Everyone is really confident with each other, and with a manager like this behind us, that brings even more confidence.”

Lascelles was one of the big winners at Sunday’s North-East Football Writers’ Association Awards Dinner, sharing the North-East Player of the Year award with Newcastle team-mate Matt Ritchie.

“It’s a huge honour to collect such a massive award,” said Lascelles, who joins the likes of Alan Shearer, Shay Given, Peter Beardsley, Paul Gascoigne and Chris Waddle on the North-East roll of honour. “The turnout has been unreal, and that just shows the support that the people of the North give, not just to Newcastle, but to all the teams up here.

“I’m over the moon to have been given this honour, and it makes me really proud. But I probably couldn’t receive this award if my team-mates weren’t doing so well, and last season it could have gone to numerous players.

“On a personal note, it’s always nice to receive these honours, and people like Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan have won so it’s a proper trophy.”