Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was right not to sack manager Alan Pardew.
Fans had called for the dismissal of the former West Ham boss during a run of 26 league games that included only five victories.
But the Magpies have won their last three games, including away wins at Tottenham in the Premier League and Manchester City in the Capital One Cup, and Rodgers -- a coach at Reading when Pardew was manager there -- believes that shows United were right to persevere.
The Liverpool boss, whose side take on Newcastle on Saturday, said: "Credit to the directors. I know Alan is a class manager, but you are under pressure if you are not winning games.
"He is a very, very experienced and talented manager who has 700-odd games behind him. Last night I thought they were outstanding [against City]. Young players came in, and I thought they thoroughly deserved it."
#INSERT type:image caption:Alan Pardew's Newcastle have enjoyed a recent resurgence in form. END#
Liverpool will be without former United left-back Jose Enrique, who has a knee problem which forced him to miss their 2-1 win over Swansea, on Saturday.
Daniel Sturridge, Mamadou Sakho, Jon Flanagan and Suso remain sidelined, meaning Rodgers has five absentees, and he said: "Jose is still not available. It is just an issue with his knee so he won't be in the squad."
Liverpool enter a pivotal week of their season as they also travel to Real Madrid in the Champions League and host Chelsea in the Premier League.
And Rodgers, who made nine summer signings, said he felt strength in depth in his squad would be crucial, explaining: "It is why we strengthened it because of a week like this."