Newcastle United

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Brentford (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He said "there were some tired bodies" after the draw with Liverpool but "our job is to refuel the group and go again".

• Howe added: "After any game, there's a comedown. But I think it will be a steep one after the Liverpool game. Our challenge this weekend is to find a way to hit the same levels of intensity and mental qualities that we showed on Wednesday, so quickly."

• Howe suggested there would be some changes to the starting line-up but there has still "got to be a balance" in order to compete against Brentford.

• He said his players "looked really good athletically against a top team" and prior to the Liverpool match there was the "correct attitude and mental preparation from the players" to attack the game.

• On Fabian Schar's goal: "He has been so important for us in the build-up phases. He uses the ball really well - long and short. His goal rounded everything up and is a great example of him. How he scored that is beyond me, I certainly wouldn't have been able to do that as a centre-back!"

• Howe said they "need to start well" against Brentford because Thomas Frank's side have proved to be quick from the get-go, and added: "They are a very good set-piece team, so we need to be on our guard."

• On how his side use recovery days: "They do loads of classic recovery tools. We have really good internal facilities now too. The lads utilise all of those things but nothing beats the old-fashioned good diet and sleep. Mentally, there is work we need to do to get the players in the right place."

• He said there are "lots of ifs and buts" to where a win at Brentford would put them in the Premier League table but the opportunity of climbing into the top six "is there to be taken". Howe added: "Key for us is to be optimistic and very positive. We've been slightly inconsistent but that is in the past and I still believe there's more to come."

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Arsenal and Chelsea are both targeting a striker and the two London clubs have a similar list of targets, which includes Newcastle United's Sweden forward Alexander Isak, 25. (Caught Offside), external

Brighton and Southampton are tracking 18-year-old Motherwell teenager Lennon Miller, with the Scotland Under-21 international also interesting Liverpool and Newcastle. (Daily Mail - subscription required), external

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Wednesday's 3-3 draw between Newcastle and Liverpool provided a lovely feeling of nostalgia for many people watching as it was a game of old.

It was a great game and there is always an energy around midweek nights at St James' Park.

Newcastle were very much on the front foot in the first half and it was a great goal from Alexander Isak. Liverpool weren't at their absolute best but Arne Slot is really good at tweaking his team at half-time to bring out a better version of them in the second half.

Even when Liverpool scored, Newcastle were still pushing forward and then when they equalised the noise level inside the stadium went up again.

At 3-2 you probably thought the game was over, so fair play to Newcastle for bouncing back. That came through a mistake by Caoimhin Kelleher, which 99 times out of 100 would not have been punished the way it was.

The finish from Fabian Schar is not getting enough credit and it will probably be one of the best finishes of the season.

It was just an incredible game and the Newcastle fans will have loved it. From a Liverpool perspective, it probably serves as a bit of a reminder of what is ahead of them this season.

They might want to win the Premier League title but there will be hiccups along the way and Wednesday's result was a big boost for those teams around them in the title race.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe believes Alexander Isak produced his "best performance of the season" in Wednesday's thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool.

There had been a doubt over whether the Sweden forward would play, having picked up an injury recently, but Howe and Magpies fans will be glad he did.

Isak fired Newcastle into a first-half lead with a thunderous finish, saw another goal disallowed for offside and had strong penalty appeals waved away.

Asked about the 25-year-old's contribution to an eventful night at St James' Park against the Premier League leaders, Howe said: "I think it was Alex's best performance of the season for us.

"First of all, let's take his goal. It was a goal out of nothing for us and this season we've missed those.

"Last season, he regularly scored goals that he was probably not expected to score, and those moments of magic can swing games your way, and that was a massive step towards doing that.

"He was elusive, difficult to mark and difficult to pick up and was popping up all over the place. He's a great dribbler so it was great to see those qualities back in his game and I just thought it was a top performance from him."

Isak's strike in the 35th minute from 22 yards out set the tone for an exciting match that saw Newcastle - who had failed to muster a single attempt on goal at Crystal Palace at the weekend - rediscover their finishing in front of goal.

Howe added: "It's great to have one of those moments from Alex because those moments of quality, he does possess and he's delivered them consistently for us - maybe not so much this season, those strikes from distance, but he's more than capable of doing that and that's why he can make the difference for us."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Wardy: Wow. So, yet again we go toe to toe with the best the Premier League has to offer. If we can just maintain this level of intensity and commitment, we will climb the table. No more excuses lads - no fixture congestion, few injuries, everything to play for. Come on!!

Simon: What a difference between the team that turned up last night against Liverpool. To a man every ball was fought for, the press, the number of turnovers and the number of chances created were exceptional. This is by far our best performance of the season. Shoutout for the fans who acted as the 12th Man. A pleasure to watch.

James: Two points lost rather than a point gained, however, a better performance. Could've been 3-0 up at half time and they were punished with their mistakes for Liverpool's goals. The lack of conviction in some chances has been the downfall this season so far.

Ernie: Really entertaining game. Glad to get a point. Could have been three but for a couple of defensive errors but Liverpool are a dangerous side all over the park. Tonali and Big Joe were excellent.

Philippe: Great game. Isak on fire and Gordon more influential on the left. Tonali did very well also. In Howe we trust. How did the referee blow the final whistle when we were three against one? It should have been ours for a last grasp winner for 4-3.

Liverpool fans

Tim Wadsworth: A point was well deserved against a high press team who were the better team on the night. Would love Isak to be our number nine. A goalkeeper error in the end but how many saves has he made for us so far? Three points a must at Goodison on Saturday.

Ruhel: Don't blame Kelleher for the Newcastle Goal. He has saved us on numerous occasions. I blame Nunez for missing chances again. Not good enough for Liverpool. Need to buy a striker in January as Jota is injury prone.

Ken Adams: Conceding so late feels more like points dropped than points gained. Have to bounce back at Goodison on Saturday to regain momentum. Won't be easy if the players don't win their individual duels. Quite a few lost composure under pressure and the reaction to a small setback is now vital.

Chris: Started off too slow and gave Newcastle momentum. Much better second half, but the Reds have been brilliant so far, and one average performance occasionally to be expected. But a point earned. Get Mo and Virgil signed please.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League winger Pat Nevin says he did not want Newcastle's end-to-end game with Liverpool to end.

"It was one of the best games I've seen this season," said Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live. "It had ebb and flow.

"Tired players create space and when you get space on a football field, it is good players that make capital. That was a display from very, very good players.

"Alexander Isak was phenomenal. Every time he got the ball in the first half he was making chances and was unstoppable when he was dribbling.

"In the second-half it was like Mohamed Salah responded and said 'I can do that too' and he started to do the same.

"It was a classic game that you didn't want to end. It was great fun to watch. Both sides will be happy with the point in the end."

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• Ipswich Town 0-1 Crystal Palace

• Leicester City 3-1 West Ham United

• Newcastle United 3-3 Liverpool

• Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

• Aston Villa 3-1 Brentford

Newcastle United are monitoring 24-year-old Bournemouth and Ghana winger Antoine Semenyo and 25-year-old Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo. (The i News - subscription required), external

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