Arne Slot's revealing Newcastle United remark
Newcastle United were back to their best against Liverpool amid Andrew Madley and VAR controversy – and this was 'not a surprise' for Arne Slot.
This was the type of game which more often than not brings out the best in this team – and it did just last night.
Newcastle United and Liverpool played out something of a modern classic on a wet and wild night under the lights at St James’ Park.
The game ended 3-3 thanks to a brilliant late equaliser from Fabian Schar, yet Eddie Howe’s players left the stadium wondering just how they hadn’t taken all three points against the Premier League leaders.
Newcastle’s intensity, their identity under Howe, was back, and the big names in the team – Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali – all made big contributions.
Isak again had the beating of Virgil van Dyke, and Liverpool were ragged at times.
However, the contribution of referee Andrew Madley and VAR was the biggest talking point after the game.
Gordon was caught off the ball by Van Dijk after forcing a first-half save, while Isak had a very strong penalty appeal waved away after Jarell Quansah tripped him in the box. Then, deep in added time, Madley blew up without factoring in additional stoppage time as United pressed for a late, late winner.
Howe, diplomatically, told of his “surprise” at some of the decisions.
“I thought it was a penalty on Alex, but I haven’t seen a replay, that was just an initial thought.
“I was surprised by the final whistle because I think we’d spent around two minutes on a free-kick in extra-time, so I was expecting seven minutes to be played. I think it was 5:15 when he’s blown, so that was a blow, because it looked like we were in a good position.
“Then, I think VAR looked at (Gordon/Van Dijk incident), and concluded nothing happened, so we have to accept it. I was surprised by it initially, though.”
Howe’s side had 17 shots in total – six of them on target – and this statistic was in sharp contrast to the team’s weekend performance at Selhurst Park, where they drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace despite not having an effort of their own on or off target.
The team created chance after chance over a breathless 95 minutes.
Newcastle, disappointingly beaten 2-0 at home by West Ham United late last month, have stumbled on the pitch at times this season on the back of an underwhelming, Profit and Sustainability Rules-impacted summer transfer window, and Howe had addressed the “staleness” of the squad ahead of the Liverpool game.
“I think freshness is important in a squad – I won’t sit here and deny that,” said the club’s head coach. “There needs to be a certain element of trading in and out to keep the group dynamic new.
“A new dynamic, and a new team, always has to form every season. Sometimes, the same squad can produce a staleness and a negative product. We haven’t had a huge turnover of players – and that’s a slight concern.”
Window by window, there does need to be a churn of players, and this lack of trading – both in and out – has had an impact on the squad and team dynamic.
United, though, still pack a powerful punch up front, as Liverpool head coach Arne Slot pointed out after the game.
“Newcastle is such a difficult game to play,” said Slot. “They have so much quality throughout the whole squad, but especially up front as well.
“So that they’re able to score a goal, that’s not a surprise for me, and especially the first one (from Isak), what a finish that was. I don’t even know if Caoimhin (Kelleher) saw that goal, as hard as it was.”
The club has the firepower to challenge higher up the table ahead of hoped-for January arrivals.
European places
Newcastle are still in touch with the European places ahead of the busy festive period.
The club, in 10th place, is just two points behind fifth-placed Nottingham Forest with 14 games played.
This performance, as good as it was, will count for little if United cannot back it up against ninth-placed Brentford on Saturday.
Newcastle’s first visit to the Brentford Community Stadium four years didn’t go to plan – a strong XI was beaten 1-0 by a second-string, second-tier home team in a Carabao Cup tie when Steve Bruce was head coach – but much has changed at the club since then.
United, under Howe, returned to West London with a plan and won the following season – as they did in 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Newcastle, looking to push up the table before January’s transfer window, need another big capital gain.