‘Hate it’ – Gary Neville spots Newcastle United moment that may lead to Eddie Howe change

‘Hate it’ – Gary Neville spots Newcastle moment that may lead to Howe change
Aaron Stokes
4 – 5 minutes

Manchester City’s first goal in the demolition of Newcastle United is one that has been analysed more than most in the aftermath of the Premier League mauling at the Etihad Stadium.

United right-back Kieran Trippier misjudged the flight of Ederson’s lofted ball up the pitch, subsequently missing the header and allowing Omar Marmoush to net his first of three goals in the 4-0 win for the champions. All in all, it was a tricky afternoon for the 34-year-old – and his defensive counterparts – who has been brought back into the team after a strong showing in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal.

Gary Neville, who too enjoyed a stellar career on the right-hand side of defences at the top level, noticed Trippier’s role in the opening goal – and admits Marmoush’s run was almost impossible to defend.
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“There are certain players who catch my eye purely because he plays where I used to play or in the area where I used to play,” he said. “He’s obviously left-sided forward and I was a right-back. He makes the runs I wouldn’t want you to make. Those really quick runs.

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“That run he made inside Trippier for the first goal, I know Trippier got under it in the end, but making that run you will get joy. Any left winger or right winger watching, if you run hard and fast in between the fullback and centre-back on a regular basis, four or five times a half, you will get joy. I promise you. It’s a fact.

“The fullbacks hate it. The reason fullbacks hate it is because the big decision is when do you let him go and play offside, when do you actually follow him. That’s the challenge.”
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With Newcastle facing a tough period of games in the coming weeks – Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final – the right-back slot is certainly one that is up for grabs in Eddie Howe’s side. The Newcastle boss may well be considering bringing Tino Livramento back into the fold after calling on the full-back to replace Trippier at half-time on Saturday afternoon.

Howe knows he has too more than capable options at right-back, with the two interchanging in the pecking order since the start of the season. For Trippier, Saturday’s defeat looks like an opportunity missed to nail down a starting position between now and the Carabao Cup final.

But one performance also won’t change Howe’s verdict on the dressing room leader, who he has fought to keep at the club since January 2024. “He is unique, there is no-one can do what he can do – set-play delivery, passing ability and his overall leadership in unique,” the Newcastle boss said earlier this month.

“The old school leadership where you’re talking and communicating with everybody, thinking about the whole team rather than just yourself, it is almost a bit of a dying art now.”