Eddie Howe refused to comment on the amount of injury time as Liverpool struck late to defeat Newcastle but claimed it felt as if "the full-time whistle would never come" at Anfield.
Newcastle took the lead in the first-half through new summer signing Alexander Isak who was registered in time to face Jurgen Klopp's side and took advantage of some sloppy play to fire past Alisson.
Roberto Firmino pulled Liverpool level after the break as they continued to pile on the pressure with Jurgen Klopp and the Anfield crowd growing frustrated at Newcastle's attempts to wind down the clock.
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Referee Andre Marriner indicated there would be at least five minutes of additional time, with goalkeeper Nick Pope needing treatment during the injury time, the game continued as Liverpool won a late corner.
Substitute Fabio Carvalho scored what proved to be the winner in the 98th minute of play much to the frustration of the travelling Newcastle faithful.
Howe stressed he needed guidance on whether the game should have been ended sooner but admitted it felt like the referee's whistle would never come.
He said: "I would need someone else to guide me on that moment, as I sit here I've got no idea. It seemed like the final whistle was never coming from our perspective.
"But because it never came we had to defend that situation better from our perspective.
"It's a cruel game, these things happen. Hugely frustrated with that last action. Someone else needs to tell me whether we should have still been playing - I don't know."
A touchline fracas ensued after Liverpool's late winner but Howe claimed he did not see the incident and could not comment. Howe defended the multiple occasions Newcastle players went down injured, claiming they had less time than their opponents to prepare for the game.
"I didn't get a chance to speak to the referee - it was important for me to take a time out to gather my thoughts," Howe said when asked about the injury time again.
"You have to consider and take into account we had a day less preparation. Our players have emptied our tanks in every game. There was a bit of fatigue, a couple of players going down with cramp. I think that's to be expected given the physical effort the players have given today.
"There was no gamesmanship - it was just how the players were feeling at that moment."
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