01 January 2024 , 22:39
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Eddie Howe insists Newcastle shouldn't have conceded a second penalty vs Liverpool, despite goalkeeper Martin Dubravka accepting the decision.
The Magpies were beaten 4-2 at Anfield as a Mohamed Salah brace, and goals from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo condemned them to defeat. That reverse marks their seventh loss in eight matches in all competitions with Howe coming under increasing pressure.
Liverpool put the visitors under constant pressure, but Newcastle had found their way back into the match on two occasions, firstly making it 1-1 through Alexander Isak and then reducing the arrears to one when Sven Botman made it 3-2.
However, the Reds were given a chance to re-establish their two-goal lead when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot after Diogo Jota rounded Dubravka before theatrically falling to the ground. Replays showed contact was minimal, with the Portuguese forward losing his balance a few steps after any touch.
Nevertheless, Taylor's on-field decision was ratified, with Mo Salah scoring from the spot after missing a first-half penalty. Toon legend Alan Shearer branded Jota going to the ground as "f****** embarrassing" and a clear dive.
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Howe refrained from going in that strong, but did suggest the penalty was the wrong decision. "A lot happened. Action packed game. We're disapointed with the way we defended.
"I didn't think the second one was a penalty. And I did think Sean Longstaff's one before that was.
"It shouldn't be given. Martin has pulled his hand away. He's had two steps before going down. For me it's not a penalty. Even the first one the contact was so minimal. We feel hard done by."
Diogo Jota wins a penalty after rounding Newcastle keeper Martin DubravkaDubravka was significantly more magnanimous, stating that while he didn't necessarily agree, he accepted it was a penalty. He said: "My arms are not trying to catch him. I don't have to agree but at the end of the day it was a penalty."
Defeat on Merseyside, means Newcastle drop to 9th in the league, trailing the top four by 11 points at this early point of the season. Howe is not understood to be any immediate pressure and remains confident he will be able to arrest the slide.
Howe added: "You have to have the mindset that you create your luck. Feeling sorry for yourself never has any positive outcome. The players gave everything. I back the quality of the group. In time we'll get the results we need."
It's a different story for Liverpool though, who open up a three-point gap at the top of the Premier League table with an attacking performance that left Jurgen Klopp purring.
"It was a sensational game from my team," Klopp told BBC Sport. "We started extremely lively. Everyone saw Dubravka or we ourselves made sure the score didn't get too clear.
"Super game. I loved so many aspects of the game bar the goals we conceded. Unbelievable game. Unbelievable atmosphere. Counter-pressing wise it was for football schools. They have to watch that, take it and keep it. It was everything good.