Eddie Howe rued the performance of his injury-hit Newcastle United side as they slumped to another disappointing defeat only six days before facing Liverpool.
Last season’s fourth-placed side have endured a difficult festive period, winning only twice in eight matches whilst exiting both the Champions League and Carabao Cup competitions.
On Saturday they were beaten at newly-promoted Luton Town and Boxing Day was no merrier for the Magpies, letting a 1-0 lead slip to lose 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest. The more embarrassing facet of the result was the fact all three goals the visitors scored were done so by former striker Chris Wood.
At full-time a crestfallen Howe faced the media, fully recognising his team did not do enough on Tuesday.
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“We weren’t quite at our best today and when you’re not you get punished,” he said. “Our first half performance was pretty good. Second half was difficult, we didn’t play particularly well.
“”We were probably close to making it 2-0 then we get caught and they score.
“Forest were always in the game. They had pace and physicality. We pride ourselves in defending those situations better and for whatever reason that wasn’t there today.”
After both played on Tuesday, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds lead their next opponents by 13 points at the midway point of the season. Liverpool have had plenty of fitness problems themselves though those close to St. James’ Park will no doubt explain their extensive list of absentees has so far hampered their push to remain amongst Europe’s elite.
Summer signing Sandro Tonali cannot play until next season after being banned from the sport for gambling offences, whilst first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope and winger Jacob Murphy have had their campaigns decimated by dislocated shoulders each.
Harvey Barnes (ankle), Joe Willock (calf) and Elliot Anderson (back) are all expected to be out until later in January, after the meeting at Anfield on New Year’s Day, whilst Jamaal Lascelles (unknown), Javier Manquillo (hip) and Matt Targett (thigh) are being assessed with no return dates confirmed yet.
Joelinton is in line to start this time after only being risked as a substitute against Forest – a single yellow card would have ruled him out for Liverpool – whilst his manager can also take some solace from an extended gap between fixtures this week.
“I am already analysing what happened today and as always we look to improve,” Howe added. “Hopefully we get some training time now [before Liverpool].
“We now get back to the training ground for what seems like months. We need some time on the training ground to refine our game.”
