SLOT: I'M NOT SURE ED WILL TEXT ME

ARNE SLOT has shared texts with only one fellow Premier League manager and that's Eddie Howe. And he respects his rival so much he has backed him to one day become England head coach.

- BY CHRIS MCKENNA

ARNE SLOT has shared texts with only one fellow Premier League manager and that's Eddie Howe.

And he respects his rival so much he has backed him to one day become England head coach.

But whether or not the Newcastle boss would be so receptive right now to messages from his Liverpool counterpart (above) may be discovered this evening when they meet at St James' Park.

A lot has happened between the clubs since Slot and Howe exchanged pleasantries over messages in the aftermath of Newcastle's Carabao Cup victory against the Reds at Wembley back in March.

Most obviously Liverpool's pursuit of Alexander Isak, the Toon frontman who has gone on strike to force a move to Anfield.

"I don't know," Slot said when asked if this summer's events had damaged relations between the clubs. "The only manager I've ever texted (in the Premier League) was Eddie Howe.

"In Holland, I texted with a few more, but after the League Cup final we did exchange a few messages.

"If I see him, I will be the same as I was last year, and I expect nothing different from him. For me, it's still the same relationship with him."