Mark Viduka, the Newcastle United forward, heads into tomorrow's match against Liverpool hoping for a repeat of the game of his life.

The 32-year-old scored all four goals against Liverpool during his first season in England when, in November 2000, he helped Leeds United to a 4-3 victory.

Viduka struck after 24, 47, 73 and 75 minutes at Elland Road after Sami Hyypia and Christian Ziege had put the visitors 2-0 up and Vladimir Smicer’s 61st-minute strike had restored their lead. Seven years on, the Australia striker is hoping to play a similar role.

“I got four goals against them one year - I would love that to happen again,” Viduka said. “Whether it does or not remains to be seen, but that was an exceptional game and one I will never forget.

“It is difficult to score four goals in ten games, let alone in one. But it will be very tough. Liverpool are a world-class side - they have been European champions and runners up in the last three years.”

That was the season Leeds famously reached the semi-finals of the Champions League but Viduka’s new employers are enjoying more modest fortunes. Newcastle slipped into the bottom half of the Barclays Premier League despite fighting back to snatch a 1-1 draw away to Sunderland in their previous match and return to St James’ Park with much to prove.

It is their first home game since they conceded three goals in the first 11 minutes against Portsmouth en route to a 4-1 victory that drew a stinging response from the home fans.

Viduka, whose Croatian roots prompted a temporary divide - in purely football terms - in his household this week, said: “I didn’t play in that game, but it was a shocker. There are not many games that start off like that.

“But we have got to stick together whether we win or lose. If we are 3-0 down, we are all 3-0 down.

“That is a very important thing for this team, for everybody to stick together and to be willing for the cause.”

Sam Allardyce’s efforts to win over his critics at the club are not being helped by a continuing injury saga that grew in severity during the international break.

Michael Owen’s torn thigh muscle could sideline him for up to six weeks, while Steven Taylor’s back problem, which he aggravated while playing for England Under-21, has left the club with only one fit specialist central defender, David Rozehnal.