Newcastle United's John Carver cannot wait for his first taste of management at Anfield.

Carver takes his Magpies to the home of Liverpool on Monday night and is eagerly anticipating the expected electric atmosphere at the iconic Merseyside venue.

The interim Toon boss also implored his players, who were very poor in last weekend's Tyne-Wear derby loss to Sunderland, to step up and be counted at Anfield.

"It is a great place to go," said Carver.

"Manchester United have just been there and won, they had a difficult situation against Arsenal, they had an FA Cup game against Blackburn on a difficult surface.

"They are in the semi-final of the cup and still have a chance, in my opinion, of finishing in the top four, because they have got so many good players.

"Anfield - the history of football, for me, is Anfield. If you don't want to go there and have a go, then don't be a professional footballer."