Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe would have caught Liverpool’s attention by admitting that his side had moved without Alexander Isaac.
“I don’t think it was healthy for us. I don’t deny that it was a big challenge,” Howe explained.
“For me, Alex is one of the best strikers in the world — if not the best. To miss him from your team leaves a huge gap.
“I think morale was certainly affected early in the preseason, and there was nothing we could do to influence it, and it was always there.
“When you have a good player who isn’t part of your group, it’s hard to know what’s going on and how you’ll react.
“But over time, I have accepted that this is the team and that we have to make the most of the situation, and that has always been a line of thought.
“No matter what the situation, you have to find a way, and you can only control what you have control. We’ve made progress. And I have to say that the group’s vibe has been very good over the last few weeks.”
