Howe won't be drawn into war of words with Anfield's Slot

NEWCASTLE boss Eddie Howe has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot after his “smaller club” jibe amid the ongoing Alexander Isak saga.

- By DAMIAN SPELLMAN, PA

The Reds boss spoke out after the 26-year-old Sweden international, who headed for Anfield from St James’ Park in a protracted £125mil-lion switch after going on strike this summer, limped out of Wednesday night's 5-1 Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt with a groin problem.

Slot later said Isak, who has one goal in eight appearances for his new club, was struggling because “you cannot compare a player who maybe hasn’t trained or played in preseason for a smaller club to then go to Liverpool”.

Asked if he felt he had to go in to bat for Newcastle over Slot’s “smaller club” remark given their recent reemergence, Howe, whose side beat Liverpool in last season’s Carabao Cup final, said: “I don’t have to do that, I don’t feel. But you obviously know what my answer would be.”