Newcastle United head into their crucial Premier League clash against Brighton on Thursday with manager Eddie Howe admitting the hardest part of the season is still to come.
The Magpies currently sit third in the table, ahead of fourth-placed Manchester United on goal difference and one point ahead of Liverpool, albeit they have a game in hand on the Merseyside club.
Newcastle have taken one point from their last two games – losing at home to second-placed Arsenal and drawing 2-2 at relegation-threatened Leeds United – while Liverpool are on a seven-match winning streak that is piling extra pressure on the two Uniteds.
Brighton, meanwhile, are sixth in the table but head into the match at St James' Park full of confidence after a superb 3-0 win over Arsenal in North London on Sunday.
The Seagulls are looking to a secure a European spot for the first time in their history in what has been an impressive campaign for manager Roberto De Zerbi since taking over from Graham Potter last September.
After the Brighton match, Newcastle are at home to Leicester City on Monday before ending their season away to Chelsea on Sunday, May 28, as they look to secure a Champions League spot for the first time in two decades.
“I'm well aware of the importance of every game. We're running out of games, there's three games left in the competition for top four,” Howe told reporters on Wednesday.
Leeds 2 Newcastle 2: Player ratings
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LEEDS RATINGS: Joel Robles 7: Went right way for Wilson’s penalty but had been placed right in bottom corner. Tried to put off same player ahead of second penalty – and was booked for troubles - but failed to succeed. Vital saves from Saint Maximin and Schar late on. Getty -
Luke Ayling 6: Captain fired Leeds ahead into early lead from close range at back post after Pope had saved from Rogrido for his first goal at Elland Road since 2020 when Leeds were in second tier. Given run around by Willock at times in second half. AP -
Rasmus Kristensen 8: Important deflection on Wilson strike to send effort over bar early on second half. Unlikely scorer when his shot took huge deflection off Trippier to make it 2-2. AP -
Max Wober 6: Clumsy challenge on Isak gave referee easy penalty call to make and Wilson made no mistake form spot. A nervy performance from Austrian. AP -
Junior Firpo 3: Scythed down by Joelinton to earn Leeds penalty. Unfortunate slip allowed Isak through on goal only for Wober to chop down Swede. Booked for reckless late tackle on Guimaraes. Ludicrous handball led to second Newcastle penalty. Sent-off for bringing down Gordon in injury-time. Getty -
Robin Koch 7: German exemplified the determination of Leeds throughout the match played out in front of an electric Elland Road support. Harrassed and hassled Newcastle's midfielder's at every opportunity. Getty -
Weston McKennie 6: United States international launched a few long-throws into box that Newcastle dealt with comfortably. Snatched at shot in second half and skied it way over bar. AFP -
Rodrigo 7: Came off bench to score against Man City last week and saw early header saved by Pope only for Ayling to score from rebound. Worked tirelessly for home side's cause. Getty -
Sam Greenwood 5: Poor clearance in opening few minutes handed chance to Joelinton. Lacking composure as he blazed right-footed chance from edge of area way over bar just before break. Occasion proved too much for 21-year-old who was hooked at half-time. AP -
Jack Harrison 6: Wideman, who was linked with move to Newcastle last season, certainly put in a shift but lacked the final product that Leeds needed and was no surprise when he came off in second half. Reuters -
Patrick Bamford 6: His ball into box from left led to Ayling opening the scoring. Could have put Leeds 2-0 up but saw poor penalty saved by Pope and looked deflated for rest of first half. Getty -
SUBS: Adam Forshaw (On for Greenwood 46’) 8: Lung-bursting run back in injury-time to prevent Saint-Maxmin being through on goal summed up his efforts as he brought some stability to the Leeds midfield. PA -
Wilfried Gnonto (On for Harrison 63’) 6: Booked for complaining to referee after second Newcastle penalty awarded. PA -
Brenden Aaronson (On for Rodrigo 87’) N/A. Reuters -
Pascal Struijk (On for Bamford 90+2’) N/A. PA -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Nick Pope 7: Parried Rodrigo’s header straight to Ayling for Leeds’ opener. Saved Bamford’s weak penalty to prevent Leeds going two-goals head in first half. No chance with second Leeds goal that took huge deflection. -
Kieran Trippier 5: Allowed Bamford too much time and space to supply cross for early goal. Headed deflection sent Kristensen shot past Pope for second. Unusually mixed bag with his dead-ball efforts with some training-ground routines failing to come off in spectacular fashion. AP -
Fabian Schar 7: Good performance at back from Swiss and had a couple of opportunities at other end of pitch, with one header cleared off line and then had volley saved by Robles in injury-time. Reuters -
Sven Botman 7: Dutchman helped keep Bamford quiet and made some important interceptions but Newcastle are struggling to keep clean sheets at the moment which will be worry to manager Eddie Howe. -
Dan Burn 7: The Geordie defender had a fine game at the back and hardly put a foot wrong at Elland Road. Has made the left-back spot his own this season. AP -
Bruno Guimaraes 6: Frustrating afternoon for Brazilian whose normally finely tuned passing radar was off kilter at times as he over-hit some balls and picked out Leeds players rather than teammates with others in opening 45. Improved after break but was rightly booked for diving just before half-hour mark. Reuters -
Joe Willock 7: Went down far too easily after a couple of challenged in first half much to annoyance of home fans. But his surging runs down flank caused Leeds – and Ayling in particular – a few problems after break. AP -
Joelinton 6: Awful challenge on Firpo gifted Leeds clear penalty but Pope came to his rescue saving Bamford’s spot kick. Another Magpies player not hitting his usual high standards of this season. AFP -
Miguel Almiron 8: Back in starting XI ahead of Jacob Murphy and curled fine effort just wide of target before half-time. His workrate is second to none, was tireless launching Newcastle on attacks and helping win back possession in defensive areas. AFP -
Callum Wilson 8: Turn and shot from acute angle in 11th minute but hit straight at keeper. Two ice-cool finishes from penalty spot that takes his tally for season to 17. Saw another shot deflected over bar just after break. PA -
Alexander Isak 7: Failed to track back with Ayling as Leeds full-back scored opening goal. Surging run into box recklessly ended by Wober to earn Newcastle penalty. Pace a constant problem for Leeds defenders. AP -
SUBS: Allan Saint-Maximin (On for Wilson 72’) 7: Had ball in net minutes after coming on but Isak had been caught offside. Saw another striker saved well by keeper. Getty -
Anthony Gordon (On for Almiron 72’) 6: Thought that he’d won Newcastle a third penalty when brought down by Firpo but challenge took place just outside of box. Getty -
Elliot Anderson (On for Willock 86’) N/A. Getty
“This will be the hardest bit, we need everyone to pull together to achieve it. When you're playing the important games that's what you're in it for.
“We're not looking too far ahead, it's small steps, the next game, and trying to get three points against a tough opponent, that's all we can do."
As for Liverpool's good form, Howe added: "I've not focused on any other team all season. In my experience, I knew Liverpool were never far away because they are a top team and they are capable of going on runs of wins.
"They are very similar to Manchester City where they can win a group of games without blinking. They have got that experience."
Howe admitted that the team's run to the League Cup final – where they lost to Manchester United at Wembley Stadium – had meant they had taken their eyes off the Premier League prize for a short time.
But as they head into the season finale, there is now only one show in town and Howe says the players need to harness the energy of what is sure to be an electric home crowd.
Arsenal 0 Brighton 3: Player ratings
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ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 5: Turned Enciso effort over bar in what was Brighton’s only effort on target in first half. No chance with first goal, lobbed for second after Trossard made a mess of the keeper’s pass out from back. Parried Udav’s shot straight to Estupinan for the third. Reuters -
Ben White 4: Found both Enciso and Mitoma handfuls as the Brighton widemen switched flanks. Tormented by latter in run-up to Enciso’s goal and the Japanese winger had White on toast on more than one occasion. Reuters -
Gabriel 7: Arsenal’s best defender, and probably best player, on day when many of his teammates struggled. Brazilian was solid from start to finish. PA -
Jakub Kiwior 4: Up against a talented and physical opponent in Ferguson who held off the Pole’s challenge to shoot wide in first half. Went down holding leg just before Enciso scored and left Arsenal man down when he surely should have stayed on feet. Getty -
Kieran Tierney 5: Back in team in place of Oleksandr Zinchenko, which many Arsenal fans felt should have happened well before the Ukrainian’s injury. But had a tough time against direct running of Enciso. Reuters -
Jorginho 4: The fulcrum to Arsenal’s win at Newcastle last week, was left moaning at minor Brighton challenges this one as the visitors harried Arsenal’s midfield from start to finish. AFP -
Granit Xhaka 5: Has been the heartbeat of Arsenal’s title challenge but lost battle in centre of park and both centre-midfielders were replaced midway through second half as Gunners chased game. AP -
Martin Odegaard 6: Left dazed after taking ball full in face in first minute. Recovered to fire low strike from edge of box just wide after quarter-of-an-hour. Drilled a shot across face of goal and well wide in first-half stoppage time. Not one to remember in what has been superb season for Norwegian. EPA -
Bukayo Saka 5: First sight of goal came just before half-time but he pulled shot wide of Steele’s near post. Like rest of Arsenal’s attackers, struggled to make impact. EPA -
Gabriel Martinelli 5: Incredibly, not even shown yellow card for clattering into Mitoma that could easily have been red in first 10 minutes. Caicedo’s crunching tackle from behind – that should also have been at least a booking - soon after ended Brazilian’s match inside 20 minutes. Reuters -
Gabriel Jesus 6: Had low strike from tight angle turned out for corner by Steele at his near post. Certainly cannot fault his workrate but Arsenal needed more threat in front of goal. AFP -
SUBS: Leandro Trossard (On for Martinelli 18’) 6: Early introduction against former club and nearly opened scoring when he cut inside and clipped the Brighton bar on 30-minute mark. Hit weak shot straight at keeper in 71st minute. Awful touch led to Brighton’s second. PA -
Reiss Nelson (On for Jorginho 60’) 6: Drilled shot centremetres wide not long after coming on. AP -
Thomas Partey (On for Xhaka 60’) 5: Brought on to bolster midfield that had struggled to get foothold on game but failed miserably to change the script. Booked late on. Getty -
Eddie Nketiah (On for Jesus 77’) N/A. Reuters -
Emile Smith Rowe (On for Odegaard 77’) N/A. PA -
BRIGHTON RATINGS: Jason Steele 7: Had away hearts in mouths trying to play ball out from back on several occasions. Blocked Jesus strike at near post with his foot that was Arsenal’s sole first-half shot on target. Surprisingly untroubled after break. EPA -
Moises Caicedo 8: Playing at trick-back again due to injuries but was excellent away from his midfield comfort zone. Arsenal’s January transfer target should have been booked, at least, for revenge tackle on Martinelli who had clobbered Mitoma minutes earlier. Reuters -
Levi Colwill 8: One clever ball over Arsenal defence in opening 45 minutes to Mitoma starting move that ended with Enciso stabbing good chance way over bar. Outstanding at the back alongside Dunk. Getty -
Lewis Dunk 8: Crucial captain’s block on Arsenal attempt on goal on edge of half-time then came flying out to try and charge down Saka shot that was enough to put off the England man who shot wide. A typically committed performance from defender. Getty -
Pervis Estupinan 8: Had game’s first booking for shove on Saka which was a far less serious challenge than either Martinelli’s or Caicedo’s that both received no card. Slightly fortuitous assist chopping cross into ground that looped straight to Enciso who scored. Good finish on rebound to make it 3-0. Getty -
Pascal Gross 8: A key player in Brighton’s pressing game at the Emirates and made life difficult for Arsenal players in possession. A cool and clam performance from German. Harsh booking for foul on Jorginho. PA -
Billy Gilmour 7: Former Chelsea man played his part in what an impressive Brighton performance and helped frustrate and nullify Arsenal’s midfield. AP -
Alexis Mac Allister 7: Argentine, linked with move to Liverpool in UK media this weekend, almost put Brighton 2-0 up but fired shot just wide. Glides around the pitch and would be big surprising to see World Cup winner playing for Seagulls next season. Getty -
Julio Enciso 8: Started on left and had game’s first shot on target when Ramsdale palmed his powerful strike over bar. Leant back and skied a decent chance later in half. Headed Brighton into the lead just after break. Caused chaos in Arsenal defence and ran himself into the ground. AFP -
Karoru Mitoma 9: On receiving end of nasty shoulder challenge to the head by Martinelli in first half. Skinned White before setting up chance for Enciso later in half. Left same player for dead in run-up to Brighton’s goal and tormented White throughout. Getty -
Evan Ferguson 7: Showed real strength to hold off Kiwior just before break but Irish attacker pulled shot wide of target. A real physical presence for Brighton who holds ball, has a nice touch and lets defenders know he’s about. Getty -
SUBS: Danny Welbeck (On for Gilmour 60’) 6: Former Gunner was given warn reception by home fans after coming on. Drilled a shot couple of metres wide. PA -
Facundo Buonanotte (On for Ferguson 77’) N/A. AP -
Deniz Undav (On for Enciso 82’) N/A. Lobbed home Brighton’s second to kill-off Arsenal hopes on day and in the title race. Reuters
“The difficulty with the cup final was it was an added focus with the league,” Howe said.
“It took away our focus from the league for a period of time but now we have just one objective and that’s what we’re focused on. The players are calm. I’m confident we’ll handle the occasion.
“Especially at home it's absolutely crucial that we try to involve the crowd and show them we're in the game to perform and show everyone how committed we are to success for the club. I think that's really vital.”
Howe will once again be without key midfielder Sean Longstaff who has not recovered from a foot injury that has seen him miss the last three games but the manager is confident he will play again this season, while winger Jacob Murphy is also a doubt due to a groin problem.
“We're quite clear on the injury, it's just how long it takes to heal,” Howe said of Longstaff. “He made good progress yesterday so let's see how he feels today. He won't be involved in this game.”
