Newcastle lost 4:2 away to Liverpool on the 1st day of the new year. Eddie Howe could not count on many key figures like Sandro Tonali, Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Willock, Jakob Murphy and Harvey Barnes among others. Team captain Kieran Trippier and Callum Willson also withdrew from the match squad just hours before the kick-off. The defeat meants that the Magpies have now lost 7 of their last 8 matches across all competitions and if they don’t begin to win as soon as possible, then the club might look for a new manager.
⚪️⚫️ Newcastle injury crisis continue as Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson will not be part of the squad for Liverpool game.
Trippier misses out due to groin issue; Wilson misses out due to calf issue. pic.twitter.com/SeIoQHYnWa
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 1, 2024
The January transfer window presents the Eddie Howe with a chance to strengthen the squad in all areas. Manchester City’s Kalvin Philips was one player linked with Newcastle earlier in the season but nothing has come to fruition thus far. Rumours are circulating that Newcastle’s Saudi owners might turn to their domestic league in search of star reinforcements. It is no secret that the team cannot spend big due to financial restrictions, but acquiring players on loan from the Saudi Super League can be the perfect solutution for Eddie Howe and the owners. A couple of months ago the Premier League clubs had a meeting regarding future of loan deals between clubs with the same owner. They did not get the needed votes to ban loan deals from two clubs with the same owner and such an outcome will allow to strengthen significantly during the winter transfer window.