Ambitious Newcastle United face test of European credentials against Liverpool

Magpies, who have splashed out close to €270m since their Saudi-led takeover, hope that record signing Isak will be clear to play in Anfield clash

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, left, watches as Allan Saint-Maximin celebrates with teammates after scoring the late leveller against Wolves on Saturday, August 28, 2022. Getty

Newcastle attacker Allan Saint-Maximin volleys home to make it 1-1 in the Premier League match at Molineux. Reuters

Allan Saint-Maximin celebrates after scoring for Newcastle. Getty

Ruben Neves puts Wolves into the lead against Newcastle. Getty

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope during the game against Wolves. Getty

Wolves' Jonny under pressure from Kieran Trippier of Newcastle. Getty

Newcastle's club-record signing Alexander Isak - second row, second from right - watching from the stands at Molineux. Reuters

Newcastle defender Sven Botman under pressure from Ruben Neves of Wolves. Getty

Wolves' Ruben Neves celebrates scoring at Molineux. PA

Allan Saint-Maximin on the attack for Newcastle. Getty

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe had a sympathetic word on Tuesday for the man freshly removed from his old job at Bournemouth.

He was “surprised and disappointed” for Scott Parker, sacked four matches after having led Bournemouth back into the Premier League. “He did a brilliant job,” said Howe, careful not to judge the club that he himself guided to two promotions “without knowing what’s going on there”.

One thing Howe does know about Bournemouth’s haste in changing their manager is that a 9-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday had a lot to do with the timing of it.

The humiliation provoked Parker into pointing out how little Bournemouth had invested in reinforcing their squad for the challenges of England’s top division, calling them “underprepared”. The numbers back him up. In the Premier League, only Leicester City went into the last 48 hours of the summer transfer window having spent less than the Cherries.

At the other end of the money table are Howe’s Newcastle. They will take on goal-glut Liverpool this evening with a balance sheet for 2022 that currently shows the highest net spend on players not just in the Premier League but of any club across Europe’s major leagues – a huge leap up in the club’s influence in the market, a statement of ambition from the club’s principal backers, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Howe has a particular perspective on the scale of the transformation. Since he was appointed as manager last November, a month after the takeover of the club by a consortium in which PIF have much the largest stake, Newcastle have paid out as much in fees for new signings as Bournemouth did across the five years that Howe skilfully managed them in the Premier League, until they dropped down to the Championship in 2020.

Bruno Guimaraes has been a revelation since joining Newcastle in January, but could miss the Liverpool game due to injury. PA

The net Newcastle spend so far this calendar year is more than €200 million, a figure swelled last week by the club-record capture of striker Aleksander Isak from Real Sociedad, who could earn €70m from the sale.

If Isak provides the same sort of uplift that the club’s major January signing Bruno Guimaraes has done, Howe will regard him as a major ally in the bid to bring European football to St James' Park next season.

“He's a very exciting player,” said Howe of the 22-year-old Sweden international. “He's got a mix of attributes that will hopefully elevate us: pace, technical ability, a really good dribbler. But also he's a team player. He will want to help bring other people into the game as well.

“I see someone who has very quietly gone about his business in his time with us so far in a very impressive way.”

The one frustration has been the wait for Isak’s working visa to be issued. It delayed a possible debut during the 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend. Newcastle were still trying to accelerate the process on Tuesday to make Isak available for the trip to Anfield.

Newcastle 3 Manchester City 3: player ratings

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Nick Pope - 8, It’s not often you’ll see a goalkeeper get this score after conceding three, but Pope made a plethora of impressive saves and interventions, including tipping Erling Haaland’s effort on to the post and stealing the ball from Ilkay Gundogan’s toes. AFP

Kieran Trippier - 6, Left Ilkay Gundogan alone in the box for the opener but went on to put in a strong defensive performance after that and scored a stunning free kick for Newcastle’s third. Was shown a red card for a cynical tackle on Kevin De Bruyne as he attempted to run through but it was downgraded to a yellow. Reuters

Fabian Schar - 5, Could have done more to deny Gundogan for the opener and was booked for a late challenge on Phil Foden after being beaten to the ball. However, he battled well. Getty

Sven Botman - 5, Some of his passing was off in the first half, but the Dutchman made a good header to find Callum Wilson in the opposition box, then made a good recovery after failing to deal with Phil Foden’s cross. Was saved by Pope after Haaland got behind him and struck over the crossbar. Action Images

Dan Burn - 5, Put in a good defensive display for large periods but completely lost Bernardo Silva for Newcastle’s equaliser. Provided Botman with a good knockdown late on. Got away with an under-hit back pass in the final stages then went off after Botman kicked the ball into his face. Getty

Joe Willock - 6, Gave the ball away cheaply leading to a good chance for City and he then made a good burst forward but waited slightly too long to play Wilson in. Put a good shift in. AFP

Bruno Guimaraes - 7, Was booked inside eight minutes for a cynical foul on De Bruyne but did well to ensure he could make an impact without risking a second. Was unlucky not to get more after closing Rodri down. Getty

Joelinton - 8, Got through so much impressive work in the middle both in attack and defence, encapsulated when he forced Kyle Walker into a mistake by pressing him at the end of the first half. Was booked for a late challenge on Haaland. Getty

Miguel Almiron - 7, Hit a horrible shot over the crossbar after being teed up by Allan Saint-Maximin, but got his goal by touching the ball into the net with his thigh. Made a great run to cause panic for Ederson. Getty

Callum Wilson - 7, Scuffed a shot straight into Ederson’s arms but then took a great touch and provided a composed finish to put Newcastle ahead. Getty

Allan Saint-Maximin - 9, Troubled City’s defence all game and it was his running and quality final pass that created the openings for Newcastle’s first two goals. Then won the free kick for their third. AP

SUBS: Chris Wood (Wilson, 70’) - 6, Had some good touches but no opportunities to get on the scoresheet. Getty

Sean Longstaff (Willock, 70’) - 6, Got forward well to make a cross but it was blocked and worked hard for the team. Action Images

Jacob Murphy (Almiron, 83’) – N/R, Put in some good work down the right to help his team earn the point. EPA

Emil Krafth (Saint-Maximin, 94’) – N/R, Was beaten by Phil Foden but the cross came to nothing. Getty

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 5, In addition to conceding three times, he was beaten to the ball by Almiron after coming out of his goal wildly, having to be bailed out by Joao Cancelo. EPA

Kyle Walker - 3, Had a torrid time attempting to deal with Saint-Maximin and needed to do better in the build-up to both of the first two goals. Overhit his cross in the final seconds when City were attempting to work an opening for the winner. Getty

John Stones - 3, His poor pass started the move that then saw him get beaten by Saint-Maximin for the first, and the Frenchman got past him too easily for the second. Was booked for sliding in to stop Saint-Maximin on the edge of his own box for the free kick that Trippier scored for Newcastle’s third. His quick thinking from the corner started the move that resulted in City’s second. AP

Nathan Ake - 6, Was dominant on the ground and in the air before being forced off prematurely due to injury. Getty

Joao Cancelo - 5, Was booked for a mistimed tackle on Almiron and he then did nothing to stop the Paraguayan scoring the equaliser. He slightly redeemed himself by making a great run and block to deny the same man. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne - 8, Had a good free kick attempt stopped by Pope. The Belgian’s cross created the chance for Haaland’s goal and he played an absolutely exquisite pass to find Bernardo Silva for the equaliser. Getty

Rodri - 7, Hit two shots from range that did very little to trouble Pope and was unable to stop Newcastle breaking forward at times. Made a good header to deal with Trippier’s free kick delivery and did well to touch the ball into Haaland’s pass at the other end for City’s second. AFP

Ilkay Gundogan - 7, Finished well for the opener after being afforded plenty of time in the Newcastle box and made some other good runs into dangerous areas. EPA

Phil Foden - 6, Caused problems in the first half but was selfish and had a shot saved from a tight angle when Haaland was in space in Newcastle’s box. Was involved in lovely link-up play at times. EPA

Erling Haaland - 7, His brilliant running despite being pulled back by Willock created a chance for De Bruyne but the Norwegian then snatched at an opportunity after good work from Gundogan. Was unlucky to see his shot tipped on to the post after coming up with a brilliant touch, but there was no stopping hi clinical finish that gave City hope. Reuters

Bernardo Silva - 8, Showed brilliant composure and precision to pick out Gundogan for the opener. His under-hit pass almost got City in trouble but he made a great run and provided a tidy finish to equalise. EPA

SUB: Ruben Dias (Ake, 21’) - 5, Was unable to stop Wilson putting Newcastle ahead then couldn’t keep his header down at the end of the first half. Unlucky to see his header go straight at Pope. EPA

There, Howe will in any case line up a very different side to the one he took to Anfield last season, for his fourth league game on the touchline as Newcastle manager, a 3-1 defeat.

The personnel for an entirely new defensive unit – goalkeeper Nick Pope, plus Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Matt Targett – have joined since, at a combined cost of almost €100m, with Guimaraes, a €42m purchase from Lyon, galvanising the area in front of them.

Newcastle were 19th in the table when they went to Liverpool on that December day. “We were in a difficult position at that moment, just trying to stay in the game as long as we could,” recalled Howe. “We’re in a stronger place [now], unbeaten [so far this season]. I see no reason why we shouldn’t go there and give another good account of ourselves.”

He has injury concerns over Guimaraes, and winger Allan Saint-Maximim – who was in inspired form in the 3-3 draw against champions Manchester City and who struck an eye-catching, volleyed equaliser at Wolves – but neither of them grave enough, Howe says, to provoke another major swoop into a transfer market where Newcastle’s big-spend reputation is now firmly established.

“We're very pleased with the business we've done,” said the manager. “The injuries we have we believe to be short-term. Longer term, when those bodies are back, we're very strong.

“That's not to say we're totally closed off. We're obviously still looking but I don't expect any major business to be done.”

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has seen his team win one and draw three of their opening four games of the new season. Getty