Eddie Howe makes Liverpool 'quality' claim and Loris…

Eddie Howe makes Liverpool 'quality' claim and Loris Karius admission at Newcastle United

Eddie Howe admits his Newcastle United side were unpicked by the quality of Liverpool as they again fell to Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Goals inside the opening 17 minutes from Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo earned the Reds a 2-0 Premier League triumph at St James’ Park on Saturday evening.

It closed the gap on fourth-placed Newcastle – who had goalkeeper Nick Pope sent off midway through the first half for handball outside the penalty area – to six points with a game in hand.

Liverpool are the only team to have beaten the Magpies in the Premier League this season, having won 2-1 at Anfield back in August.

And Newcastle boss Howe said: “The two goals, we’re disappointed with. They came out of nothing, really, no real pressure, just quality moments from them. The sending-off happens and you fear the worst, but if anything, we grew into the game and created chances all through that period.

“I felt if we could get the third goal, it would have created a really interesting end to the game, but that goal never came.

“Liverpool have that pace and quality. They have the quality to find the runs. We would back ourselves on another day to have defended those situations a lot better. We didn’t, and we paid the price for that.

“We’ll review that and analyse it. Teams with the quality of Liverpool have the ability to unpick you with one moment. Our challenge is to keep our concentration and prevent that, and we didn’t do that well enough.”

Newcastle twice hit the crossbar in the first half while Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a clutch of important saves.

And Howe added: “I thought we were very good with 10 men. I thought we were very good with 11 men at the start of the game. We created the first big chance, the crowd were electric and it seemed set for a really good afternoon.

"We were a constant threat in the game, and I was really pleased with the team and how they responded. It was only really in the latter stages of the game, as we tired, that Liverpool created some chances.”

Pope’s red card means he will be suspended for Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester United next weekend. And with substitute goalkeeper Martin Dubravka ineligible, it means former Liverpool shot-stopper Loris Karius is in contention to feature at Wembley.

“That was the reason for taking a player of his profile,” said Howe. “He has experience of the big games, so I’ve got no doubt or issue over his ability to step in. He’s continued to improve and impress in training.”

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