Newcastle boss Eddie Howe asked for clarity about Alexander Isaac’s future after seeing Liverpool’s Liverpool kick his side in a five-goal thriller at St James Park.
Chairman Yasir al-Rumeiyan was one of the crowd as his 16-year-old alternative, Rio Nugumo, took a 3-2 victory with the Reds – in the process he became the fourth youngest scorer in Premier League history behind James Vaughn, James Milner and Wayne Rooney.
Coach Hau argued that after the match it was not the party that was said during those debates, but he admitted the decision on Swedish international — the subject of rejection rejected by the Reds was needed earlier than later.
Hau said: “I haven’t talked about this for a long time. I’ve prepared my team and gave all the energy to players who want to play for Newcastle.
“We want clarity. We want to move forward. We want to change the story as this season is beginning.
“We have to be interested in our actions and get results. We have to focus on what we can control. We gave two really good performances. We ended up with one point.
On the night when many of the talks before kickoff surround Isaac, both sides produced an astonishing heavyweight match when ten magpies left the ropes and framing themselves within seconds of an astonishing point.
Each half goal from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike on both sides of Anthony Gordon’s firing seemed to ensure a victory for the visitors, but Bruno Guimares’ 57-minute header gave Newcastle hope.
Gordon is sent to judge Simon Hooper after a Val review of his messy challenge to Virgil van Dik, but Hau has sympathy for the man who asked him to represent Isaac.
He said: “It’s unfortunate. I think he’s a bit unlucky about it. Everyone said it was clear red. My initial opinion was slightly different, but maybe I have sympathy for him because I have the wrong angle.”
We were asked if the three-match suspension Gordon is currently facing. Hau said:
The opposite number of Arne Slot was pleased to come out of the amazing game at three points, but admitted that his team was lucky enough to get them.
Asked about Ngumoha’s final Gasp winner, he said, “Of course it’s special for him to score a goal in such a flash.
“We know how it feels – last season we admitted in the 89th minute (in Newcastle) and now we were lucky people.
“This makes more sense to me than when we played good football as this had nothing to do with tactics or good football tonight. It was just a great game to watch, but not for tactics or good football, but every second of the game, everyone was in front of their seats.”
