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Newcastle boss dismisses Slot’s ‘smaller club’ jibe

AFP | London

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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe swerved a row with Arne Slot on Friday after his Liverpool counterpart referred to Newcastle as a “smaller club” when discussing Alexander Isak’s transfer to Anfield.

The Reds boss made the comments after the 26-yearold Sweden international, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle last month, limped out of yesterday’s 5-1 Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt with a groin problem.

Slot said Isak, who has one goal in eight appearances for his new club, was struggling because “you cannot compare maybe a player that hasn’t trained or played in pre-season at a smaller club than if you go to Liverpool”.

Howe, speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Fulham, refused to be drawn into a war of words with Slot.

“I don’t have to do that, I don’t feel,” he said. “But you obviously know what my answer would be.”

Howe, whose team beat Liverpool in last season’s League Cup final, added: “I don’t think that’s wise, for me to get involved in those discussions, I think. Alex is no longer at this football club, so I won’t comment on it.”