Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton has claimed Newcastle United are drawing too many Premier League games. A goalless shutout against Crystal Palace was the Magpies' third in four top-flight outings.
While Newcastle have lost just once in 2022-23, a controversial defeat to Liverpool in August, nine draws is three times more than any other top-six side. Eighth-placed Brentford are the only other team to manage as many league stalemates this season.
That Anfield defeat aside, being held on home soil to Palace, Bournemouth and Leeds United are also blemishes on an otherwise flawless campaign under Eddie Howe. A sturdy backline has proven the most resilient in England so far, with just 11 goals conceded.
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Newcastle dominated proceedings at Selhurst Park but could not find a way to break the Eagles down. One shot on target and 39 percent possession for the hosts is the polar opposite of the 15 attempts and 75 percent managed in this fixture last season.
Most of the post-match criticism was levelled towards a toothless Toon attack for failing to score the decisive goal. Speaking post-match, ex-Reds title winner Houghton told Howe he may need to ring the changes to re-energise his Newcastle side.
“Overall, over the 90 minutes, they’ll be slightly frustrated with the possession they had to (not) create more chances,” he said. “I think that's their ninth draw this season.
“That’s where the problem lies with them at the moment. There are some games where you come from and think ‘we’re happy with a point’.
“But others, like today, you're thinking ‘we should have done more.’ With the possession they had and the areas they had the ball in, they didn't test the Crystal Palace keeper often enough.
“They could have lost that. There was one golden opportunity for Mateta, who swivelled on the ball, hitting it with his right foot and then (drawing) a world-class save from Nick Pope to keep it at 0-0.
“He’s been playing a consistent team, which works for long spells, but there are occasions where they might (need to) freshen things up. Overall, it’s just that final third, where Eddie Howe will be looking at what he can do to create more chances.”
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