Benfica v Madrid in Champions League playoffs; Europa League draw; transfer news: football – live
⚽ News and previews heading into the weekend’s action ⚽ Premier League: 10 things to look out for | Mail John Mikel Arteta and Eddie Howe will be speaking soon. Two titans of management speak. This was interesting from Slot. He was asked why Premier League teams are becoming so dominant in Europe, with Liverpool particularly impressive in the Champions League this season especially compared to man
Given Newcastle are going to Anfield tomorrow there is an inevitable question for Howe about Alexander Isak. The Swede won’t feature against his former club for Liverpool this weekend, of course, as he’s out long-term with a fractured fibula and ankle ligament damage.
Howe says Newcastle have taken a while to adjust after the £125m British record sale of the striker.
“It’s an ever-challenging thing,” he said. “You lose a player like Alex and – let’s put this right – Liverpool paid the money they did because he’s an outstanding footballer, an unbelievable talent. We were privileged to have him for the years that we had him. We loved working with him. He was an outstanding player.
“When you take that player away from your team, it’s going to change the dynamics, that’s for sure. Then you have to try to find a way of, not replacing him, but finding a player or players who can still make the team really effective.
“We’re still in that moment and we’ve been trying to do that all season. I think the guys who have come in have done a very good job. But we’re still finding ways to get the best out of the new players that we’ve signed with very minimal time to do any work with them. There’s been video analysis, talking to them, which is great, but it’s not the same as getting the work on the training pitch. They’ve done really well and they’re trying to give the team the best that they have. We are trying to adapt.”
