Newcastle United’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park on Sunday will not help the rumors that Eddie Howe could lose his job.
Last month, the Daily Mail newspaper reported that the future of this English coach is in doubt and there is no guarantee that he will be in the headlines next season.
The Magpies have lost their third game in a row in all competitions and fourth in their last six Premier League games, leaving the team in 14th place in the top flight.
Howe has led Newcastle to fifth place and the Champions League in the 2024/25 campaign, but they are currently ten points adrift of fifth place with six games remaining.
The former Bournemouth boss may feel the pinch at Selhurst Park, however, because the home side’s winning penalty was questionable, to say the least.
Why Sven Botman is not to blame for Newcastle’s defeat at Crystal Palace
Sven Botman was penalized for a ‘no foul’ on Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma long into stoppage time, but the contact was too small.
You could make a case for a few penalties being awarded in every Premier League game if that’s the level of contact to get a penalty when defending a set piece.
Botman, who won eight of 13 aerial duels and made two blocks during the game, could have avoided laying hands on Lerma, but it was no different from what you see around the league in scheduled situations every week.
The Netherlands international did a lot of good work without a penalty incident, making four tackles and finding five tackles, and should not be held responsible for the loss, as it was an incredibly difficult decision.
He was far from the worst player on the pitch in the Magpies’ defeat in London, and one of his teammates is unlikely to start again this season.
Worse than Botman: Newcastle’s worst player against Crystal Palace
One of Newcastle’s attacking players was a sub for Botman in the defeat to Palace, failing to give Howe’s team a chance in the final third.
Jacob Murphy has been named to start on the right wing after coming off the bench in the defeats to Sunderland and Barcelona before the international break.
Unfortunately, the former Norwich City striker failed to put in an impressive performance down the stretch, as he left the field after 89 minutes without a shot on target, no goals, no ‘big chances’ created and no assists.
The 31-year-old midfielder lost the ball 25 times with 54 touches, while failing all five of his attempted crosses, in what was a stunning waste for the Magpies.
Murphy did not provide quality on the ball, except for the ‘big chances’ created from his 25 losses, and he struggled to get out of the area, losing five ground duels, which is why he was worse than Botman, who was strong without a penalty incident.
The experienced striker was a star for Newcastle and Howe last season, netting a combined 20 goals and assists in the Premier League, but has not been the same player since Alexander Isak left to sign for Liverpool for £125m.
|
Murphy in PL |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearance |
35 |
27 |
|
xG |
5.72 |
3.05 |
|
Goals |
8 |
3 |
|
Great opportunities have been created |
16 |
9 |
|
xA |
6.15 |
2.50 |
|
It helps |
12 |
1 |
Murphy has scored just four goals in 27 Premier League appearances for the Magpies this season, 16 fewer than in the 2024/25 campaign.
He continues to fail to score in the club’s final level, unfortunately, and his current performances suggest that Howe should not be starting him in the Premier League.
With the likes of Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga starting on the bench against Palace, Murphy is unlikely to start another Premier League game for Newcastle this season, unless he produces a champ from the bench to start again.
Newcastle and Marseille in ‘serious talks’ with Serbia international worth just £13m.
The Magpies sense another opportunity behind Johan Martinez.
