'Much hungrier': Ex-Liverpool midfielder offers concerning assessment of Newcastle United's relegation chances

Steve Bruce’s side sit just a point clear of the bottom three, albeit with a game in hand, after some poor results of late.

In contrast, Fulham have picked up a number of eye-catching victories and their win at Liverpool on Sunday saw Newcastle’s relegation odds slashed.

And pundit Murphy believes that fans should be ‘really worried’ ahead of the run-in – particularly given Fulham’s fine form.

He told talkSPORT: "The simple analysis of the relegation fight is that when you watch Fulham play compared to Newcastle, Brighton and West Brom at the moment, they look much better, much hungrier, much more dangerous.

"Therefore, that gives me complete faith they will stay up. Yes, they have Man City next which is a tough ask. But they are playing with a real energy and belief that I don't see in the other teams.

"Brighton are playing okay and we've talked about them playing good football and being in games, but they can't score enough goals to get them points which is really causing them a huge problem.

"Newcastle and West Brom, the quality of that game was dire. It's probably doing the Championship a disservice by saying it looked a Championship game, it was that bad. I know Newcastle have players missing, I accept that, but that was a really poor game.

"If you're asking me based on what I've seen in the last couple of weeks at the moment, I'd be really worried as a Newcastle fan."

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