Liverpool send 'very good' message to Newcastle United as £186.7m wages truth told

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has hailed Eddie Howe as a 'very good' manager ahead of facing Newcastle United next month.

Slot will take his side to St James' Park for the first time on December 4 in what promises to be a mouth-watering clash under the lights. Liverpool have a strong record on Tyneside, but Slot has already referenced how last season's dramatic late win under predecessor Jurgen Klopp 'shows you how difficult it is'.

Newcastle have only lost eight top-flight fixtures under Eddie Howe at St James' and the Magpies have defeated Arsenal and Chelsea in their last two home games as well as beating high-flying Nottingham Forest on the road. Only Newcastle (11) have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool in the Premier League this season while the black-and-whites and the league leaders are the only sides yet to drop a point from winning positions in 2024-25.

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That won't come as a shock to Slot, who has given his take on English managers and the state of coaching in this country, 'after a lot was said' following the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the Three Lions' new boss.

"In two or three weeks, I will face Eddie Howe, who I know already is a very good manager," the Dutchman told reporters. "Maybe you are not in as bad a place as people make out."

Newcastle have spent upwards of £450m on transfer fees since Howe took charge of a side in deep relegation trouble three years ago, but Liverpool's revenues and wage bill continue to dwarf the Magpies'. In fact, when Newcastle qualified for the Champions League, ahead of Liverpool, in 2023, the Reds (£373m) were among eight other top-flight sides who splashed out more on salaries than the black-and-whites (£186.7m).

The more a club spends on wages in the Premier League, historically, the more points they pick up per game, but Howe has set out to 'buck the trend' once again this season. Newcastle have the chance to move within a point of third place with a win against West Ham at St James' on Monday night.