Anthony Gordon’s ‘attitude’ will be tested again when Newcastle face Liverpool

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Eddie Howe will continue to put the team first when it comes to where Anthony Gordon plays for Newcastle United.

The 23-year-old has started 12 out of Newcastle United’s 13 Premier League games so far, with his position consistently changing.

Anthony Gordon started the season on the left wing, then was moved to the right to accommodate Harvey Barnes. After that, Gordon was deployed as a striker due to Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson being injured.

Now the England international keeps swapping from left to right, as Eddie Howe aims to get the best out of Joelinton as well. The Newcastle United manager is yet to find the winning formula, while he had to ask Gordon to play up front again on Saturday when Alexander Isak suffered an injury.

Now Liverpool loom, as Newcastle United prepare to welcome the Premier League leaders to St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe speaks about Anthony Gordon’s position for Newcastle United

In this fixture last season, Gordon scored his first ever Newcastle United goal. He also got an assist in the return fixture, with both goal contributions coming from the left wing.

Gordon has proven he can hurt Liverpool down that side, but his position in the Toon starting XI will be dictated by what the team needs.

• READ MORE: Who is Anthony Gordon? Age, height, career, position, girlfriend

That is according to Eddie Howe, who spoke to the media on Tuesday morning about Gordon’s role in the side.

“It’s about the team,” he said.

“It’s not necessarily what Anthony wants or what I want. It’s about what the team needs. That’s always been my thought – players have to play where the team needs them to play.

“Yes, Anthony’s been moved to a degree, but he has played a lot of games in his favoured position [on the left]. I’ve always said that’s his favoured position, I’ve got no problem saying that.

“It’s up to him to perform in that position when he plays there.

“He’s played on the right and played well. He created the goal against Arsenal not so long ago and people were possibly saying ‘well that’s his position, on the right’.

“It’s never clear cut. Good players can play in loads of positions. It’s been proved to me many times. It’s about your attitude when you play in that position. It has to be of the best level, and I have to say from Anthony’s perspective, playing up front again on Saturday, I thought he did really well. His attitude to that was excellent.”

Where Anthony Gordon will play against Liverpool on Wednesday

Howe has stated that players need to have the right attitude to operate in different positions, praising Gordon for the way he handled moving inside to play as a striker on Saturday against Crystal Palace.

That attitude could be tested again on Wednesday night, as it feels unlikely that Gordon will get the chance to play in his preferred position of left wing.

That is because of the opposition, with Mo Salah set to take up residency on the right of Liverpool’s attack. He will be up against Lewis Hall, who is preparing for the toughest task of what has so far been a breakthrough season in black and white.

Hall has handled Bukayo Saka with the help of Joelinton and Joe Willock, and now he might need help again when he goes toe-to-toe with Liverpool’s Egyptian king.

With that in mind, it would be wise for Howe to play Joelinton on the left, with the Brazilian more tactically suited to helping Hall than Gordon.

That will force Gordon to play on the right, which is not his preferred position. While that might disappoint the Scouser, it is about what is best for Newcastle United.