SEBASTIEN BASSONG has admitted he faces a huge challenge to shut out Liverpool hit man Fernando Torres, but urged any doubters among the Newcastle faithful to stay behind their team.

Neither the Magpies’ French centre-half nor Liverpool’s Spanish striker played when a Steven Gerrard brace helped inflict a 5-1 defeat at St James’ Park in December.

Bassong regards Torres, named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, as “one of the best” but refuses to be cowed by the striker regarded as the best in Europe.

Despite Sunday’s fixture pitting the divison’s top scorers against a Newcastle defence missing a recognised left back, Bassong firmly believes Alan Shearer’s side can take something from the game.

“It would be a high point in if we can come back from Liverpool with a positive result,”

he said. “I’m looking forward to playing against Torres. He is a great player, everyone knows that. But if you want to improve you have to play against the best.”

Bassong admitted that Newcastle must show a huge improvement on their errorstrewn performance earlier in the season when the titlechallengers ran riot.

And the defender, who confirmed he’ll resolve his longterm future at the end of the season, outlined what steps his team-mates must take if they are to shackle Liverpool’s danger men.

“I think we have to focus because if we lose our concentration they have the players who can punish us,” he said. “If you make a mistake it is a goal straight away.

“I was disappointed last time because I felt we could have been better. We made a lot of mistakes. We have to concentrate more because when you are playing against players like Gerrard and Torres, they will punish every mistake.”

Bassong also revealed that Shearer’s passion for the club continues to rebuild confidence within the squad as they battle to secure their Premier League status.

“When he talks, he is talking with the heart,” he said.

“He knows St James’ Park and the fans and what it is like. He is talking with experience and the players like that and respond to that.

“He is not much of a shouter. He has been a player and he knows that you can make mistakes, that one week you are the best player and giving your maximum, the next you are not playing well. The spirit is better. It was low before. When a new manager comes in everyone is desperate to show what they can do, but it is even better because Alan Shearer is the boss.’’