Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, applauds the fans following the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, applauds the fans following the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool earned a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield.
Eddie Howe admitted that he thought Newcastle United had silenced the Anfield crowd - before Liverpool’s comeback got the home faithful purring.
The Reds delivered a 4-1 victory over the Magpies to bolster their chances of a Premier League top-four finish. It appeared it was going to be a tough evening for Arne Slot’s side, with Newcastle in the ascendency for much of the first half and opening the scoring through Anthony Gordon.
But Hugo Ekitike’s quickfire double before half-time flipped the game on its head. Liverpool then dominated the second period, with Florian Wirtz extending the lead and Ibrahima Konate putting the gloss on the triumph in stoppage-time.
While Newcastle fell to a comprehensive defeat, Howe did not feel the scoreline was a true reflection of the game. The Newcastle manager said: “It’s a tough place to play and always a tough place to get on top and that’s the frustrating thing because we did. We quietened the crowd and did so much right in that opening half and to go into half-time 2-1 down was a difficult thing for the players because they had done a lot right.
“We start the second half really well, really strong, we’re the dominant team and then we’re 3-1 down. It’s a day we’ll look back on with regret because we didn’t defend the goals well enough and that’s what has cost us the game.
“Today, we got the goal and we quietened the crowd, did so much well and didn’t defend well enough. We have to hold our hands up to that but I can’t say anything other than we have to defend better, especially coming here or any stadium, away game. You look back at the goals we have conceded and how we have conceded four goals is a bit of a mystery. There were some moments we didn’t do well enough.”
It was Ekitike who once again proved Newcastle’s scourge, having scored in Liverpool’s 3-2 victory at St James’ Park in August. The striker was wanted by the Magpies during last summer’s transfer window but he opted to join the Reds for £79 million from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ekitike’s brace proved decisive - and Howe hailed the France international as ‘outstanding’. “He’s an outstanding player and you saw that today,” added Howe. “He’s got a bit of everything, that’s his biggest strength. He’s tall, he’s quick and can finish.
“It’s not about that [Ekitike scoring], it’s about us-v-them. Their team is very strong and have got outstanding players. We controlled those players pretty well but in key moments, we didn’t.”
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