By Matthew Jones
April 26 2004

Newcastle currently lie just behind 4th-placed Liverpool in the Premiership following the weekend's 2-1 victory over Chelsea. The Magpies will take on Liverpool at Anfield on the final day of the season, and skipper Alan Shearer feels that his sides Champions League hopes will depend on that result.

The Reds' defeated Manchester United a day earlier and Aston Villa grabbed three points at Middlesbrough, so United really had to defeat big-spenders Chelski - and they did!

Shearer scored a cracking winner, but is convinved that the race for the fourth and final CL spot WILL depend on the result at Anfield.

Shearer said: "Sunday was a very good day for us, but it had to be after the results on Saturday. Even a point against Chelsea would not have been good enough.

"To come back from one goal down to win shows the team spirit here. We are going for fourth, there is no doubt about it, and we believe we can get it.

"The results over the weekend raised eyebrows, but it is going to be like that.

"It has been this tight for the last month and it will be until the season finishes. When there has been a chance for a team to go for fourth, they have not taken it and if one has won, the other has won.

"Teams have not taken advantage and I will repeat what I said earlier in the season, and that is it will go down to the final game of the season at Liverpool.

"I have seen nothing to change my mind. It's incredible how our results are mirroring Liverpool. Villa are hot on our heels and are in form.

"It is going to be very tight, there is no doubt about that."