Liverpool primed for Newcastle redemption as £70m transfer nears finalization
The belief and ambitions of Eddie Howe regarding Newcastle United’s Champions League qualification chances last season remain known only to him. Appointed as the club’s manager three months into the 2021/22 campaign, Howe orchestrated an impressive turnaround that steered the Magpies to an 11th-placed finish, alleviating relegation concerns. Notably, the January signings of Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier contributed significantly to their success.
Continuing their newfound ability to attract top talent, Newcastle made further additions to their squad last summer, securing the services of Sven Botman and Alexander Isak. These acquisitions demonstrated the club’s growing allure, and their impact has been undeniable. The trend of Newcastle’s rising stature in the transfer market could persist with their imminent £70m signing of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali. This prompts questions about the potential challenges of preventing Newcastle from becoming regular contenders at the top of the Premier League table.
In the previous season, only four teams managed to defeat Newcastle in the Premier League, with Liverpool being the sole team to achieve a domestic double over Howe’s side. Teams struggled to cope with Newcastle’s cunning approach of frustrating opponents, earning them a reputation for their astute game management. Howe, now hailed as a master of the dark arts, dismissed accusations of time-wasting as “nonsense” when criticized by Erik ten Hag. However, the rest of the league learned the hard way that these claims about their style of play were far from baseless.
Liverpool had an early taste of the revamped Newcastle under Howe, and they relied on a 99th-minute winner from Fabio Carvalho to secure a narrow victory. The intense showdown at Anfield culminated in a clash between both benches, as tempers flared due to Newcastle’s deliberate attempts to run down the clock, resulting in nine minutes of added time. Newcastle absorbed valuable lessons from that match and, despite enduring a winless streak between January and March, displayed composure to secure a fourth-place finish. Liverpool’s late surge closed the gap to just four points, but the Reds’ struggles during the first half of the 2022/23 season had already dealt significant damage.
Newcastle’s chairman sees their surprising league performance as no coincidence and envisions building the foundations for becoming the “number one” team in the world. However, their ability to balance the pursuit of European success with the demands of midweek matches remains to be seen.
Manchester City embarked on a similar journey over a decade ago, following a lucrative takeover and aspirations of becoming a Premier League powerhouse. After qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in the 2011/12 season, they have not failed to secure a spot since. Other clubs, like Tottenham Hotspur, have struggled to make consistent appearances in the competition, while Arsenal experienced a six-season hiatus after a streak of 19 successive qualifications. Liverpool also faced a similar period of stagnation between 2010 and 2014 before Jurgen Klopp revitalized the club, securing a fourth-place finish in his first full season and maintaining or surpassing that achievement in subsequent years, except for the last season.
Newcastle has already demonstrated their potential as a formidable force among their peers. However, the upcoming campaign will serve as a litmus test to determine the extent of the long-term challenge they could pose to Liverpool. As Howe’s side prepares for their debut in the Champions League in September, it falls upon the Reds to ensure that Newcastle does not become a regular contender in Europe’s premier club competition.