Joe Kinnear has ordered his Newcastle team to stop feeling sorry for themselves and come out battling against league leaders Liverpool on Sunday. The Newcastle manager has been hit by a debilitating spate of injuries just as his side were climbing the Premier League table.

It reached crisis proportions during the defeat against Wigan on St Stephens's Day when he lost Jose Enrique with a calf injury in the warm-up and then saw Habib Beye carried off with a leg injury and Mark Viduka limp off with a torn groin muscle.

To make things worse defender Sebastien Bassong also misses the Liverpool match at St James's Park through suspension after being sent off for bringing down Emile Heskey in the incident which handed Wigan a penalty which Amr Zaki converted.

Kinnear, however, believes the morale has improved so much at St James' Park that even a makeshift team will give Liverpool the toughest of matches.

He said: "We've got to get back on track as much as I can see a million and one things that have gone against us. The players feel that way but it's up to me to get them in shape for Liverpool regardless of what team I put out.

"It's not looking good for Liverpool. We've got about eight injured at the moment."

Newcastle lie 12th in the Premier League table with 22 points and had put together a string of six unbeaten games before defeat at the JJB stadium.

Kinnear, who has an eye on bringing in four new players to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window, added: "We've been on a great run and we'll pick ourselves up again and whatever team I put out we'll give it our best shot because I have got a lot of committed players, no doubt about that."

Kinnear is likely to ask Charles N'Zogbia to fill in again at left-back with David Edgar on the right of the defence and Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini in the centre.

Liverpool go into the Newcastle game top at this stage for the first time since 1996, and with a growing belief in their play.

Assistant boss Sammy Lee said: "It is good to still be top, and we hope to still be there going into the new year.

"It will be tough against Newcastle, a very difficult task, but on this form we are looking forward to it.

"What was pleasing was the quality of our play, and the patience we showed in possession.

"Robbie Keane scored twice, that's terrific, but I just like seeing any Liverpool player scoring goals."

But he warned: "It is only December, nobody should be getting carried away. But being top of the table shows the improvement this season.

"The players have never lacked belief, and we could hear the fans signing about being top, but there is still a long way to go.

"We have got 42 points from 19 games, it is still only half-way, and we must just keep working to get the maximum from every game.

"But the boys are enjoying their football, the desire and commitment has always been there, and we aim to keep it going."