Newcastle United fans may have felt deja vu as they watched their side lose 4-2 to Brentford on Saturday.
Rewind a couple of days and Newcastle United were going toe-to-toe with the best team in the country as they drew 3-3 to Liverpool.
Frankly, Newcastle should have left St James’ Park with all three points after causing Arne Slot’s side huge problems.
A performance as good as that should inspire confidence in Newcastle’s squad, but Eddie Howe’s side failed to build on that result and instead suffered a miserable defeat in London.
Alan Shearer branded the performance as “hopeless” and it is not the first time Newcastle have gone from one end of the performance spectrum to the other in a matter of days.
Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park ...
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Newcastle United struggle after facing ‘Big Six’ opponents
Newcastle have beaten Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea and drawn to Manchester City and Liverpool this season. Yet they find themselves 12th in the Premier League table.
That tells a story in itself. Newcastle thrive as underdogs and love to cause an upset, but struggle to match that mentality against smaller sides when branded favourites.
Remarkably, Newcastle have played all of the teams in top six positions in the Premier League and their only defeat in those games came against Brighton.
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Newcastle appear to suffer a hangover after picking up a big result against a top side. After drawing with Manchester City earlier this season, Newcastle followed it up with a goalless draw away to Everton.
Newcastle also beat Arsenal at home, went and beat Nottingham Forest away but then put in perhaps their worst performance of the season as they lost 2-0 to West Ham at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe now under pressure at Newcastle
Newcastle are now three years into a long-term project under PIF, but at some point the club needs to stray away from the underdog status and start consistently beating teams they are better than.
Howe hinted at imminent Newcastle talks as he looks to discuss the disappointing Brentford defeat, and questions are now being asked about his future at the club.
READ MORE: Luke Edwards offers insight into Eddie Howe’s future at Newcastle
Newcastle have won just two of their last 11 Premier League games and fans are starting to grow tired of the toothless performances against smaller sides.
Howe recently celebrated three years as Newcastle boss but he now finds himself in the trickiest spell of his career at the club.
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