When you have been criticised and attacked, when your motivation and focus have been queried and challenged, there is only one way for a footballer to respond and Newcastle United did so perfectly against Liverpool.
Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak had been singled out for criticism before that thrilling Liverpool display; asked whether they still really wanted to be on Tyneside. It caused quite a stir. It also hit its target too.All had been heavily linked with moves away, for most of the year. All were performing at a lower level than last season. After four months, the body of evidence was there.
Newcastle needed more than they were giving, both in terms of effort levels, but also body language and demeanour.
You cannot disguise or deny what other people have also seen with their own eyes, but the key thing was the way players would react to being publicly challenged.As the former Newcastle United captain Alan Shearer said – and the Premier League’s record goalscorer was not immune to criticism, both in a club or an England shirt – “I didn’t mind criticism about my form or my performances. As long as it wasn’t personal, I always knew I had the right to replay out on the pitch and I could shove that criticism up their…”With that in mind, it was impressive how the trio played in the hugely entertaining 3-3 draw with Liverpool. All three of them were superb, at it from first whistle until the last – controversially blown by referee Andy Madley, when Newcastle were on a counter-attack in a three on one situation in their favour.
Isak scored a brilliant goal and was at his livewire, electric best all evening. Bruno was majestic in the No 8 role in midfield and got two assists. Gordon was also everything he can be: a wasp and a constant nuisance, missing one excellent chance in the first half, but scoring in the second. He must have given Liverpool – the team he wanted to join in the summer – a headache.
Gordon celebrated his goal making a reference to his critics in the media – Telegraph Sport was the not the only outlet to question his form and focus in the build-up to the Liverpool game – signing people talking while shouting ‘blah, blah, blah’ as he accepted the acclaim of the crowd.
“We want to see those players expressing themselves freely and to play at their best,” said Howe when asked about Gordon’s celebration. “During the season you’re always going to have ups and downs, there are going to be good spells and bad spells.
“It goes with the territory, when you’re performing well in the Premier League you’re going to be talked about positively and you’re going to be talked about negatively [if you’re not performing]. As we all are when you’re under the spotlight.“Dealing with that, taking some stuff in, taking the majority away from your head is key. Ultimately, if you’re enjoying your football that is when they are at their best levels, but I’ll be really pleased if he [Gordon] keeps doing that celebration as it means he is scoring lots of goals.”The challenge, which they have failed to do up to this point in the campaign, is to maintain it.
This is what Newcastle need from their three best players at least four games out of five. They were equally good in the victory over Arsenal, the win over Chelsea in the League Cup and the draw with Manchester City.
It is not their performances in the glamour games that have been the problem. What they need to do is show it consistently against the lesser teams who sit in a low block and look to frustrate them at St James’ Park. They need to deliver, especially away from home, when the noise and passion of the crowd does not inject them full of adrenaline. Starting at Brentford this weekend.
We know what the benchmark is, a standard has been set. We already knew because we have seen it regularly over the last two years.
“The better players in the league are the better players because they repeatedly do it,” added Howe. “It’s easier to do it on the odd occasion here and there and show how good you are in phases.
