Eddie Howe was left fuming after Liverpool boss Arne Slot paid a visit to referee Andy Madley’s room at half-time at St James’ Park.
Slot’s Reds were a goal down to Newcastle at the break and the manager had seen three of his players go into Madley’s book, including Alexis Mac Allister who will now miss Saturday’s Merseyside derby through suspension.
Liverpool managed to rally in the second period, equalising through Curtis Jones, before Anthony Gordon then restored the Magpies’ lead.
Mohamed Salah’s brace then turned the tide and looked to be giving Liverpool all three points, before Fabian Schar equalised in the 90th minute after an error from Caoimhin Kelleher.
After the match Amazon Prime Video presenter Dan Walker stated that Slot had paid a visit to Madley’s room at the break, and put that to Howe. The Newcastle boss looked irritated, and replied: “I don’t think I’ll go there. I think that’s a can of worms.
I tend to focus on my team.”Walker later said that Madley had spoken to both sides before the match and said that they could pay him a visit if they wish, but Howe is believed to be angered by Slot doing this at half-time.
Howe was also left angered by Madley’s decision to blow the full-time whistle as Newcastle looked to mount one last attack in stoppage time, with the five minutes that had been signalled having elapsed.
Slot refused to criticise his side for the result, which sees their lead at the top of the table reduced to seven points. “I have mixed feelings, we were outstanding in the second half but we were not good enough in the first half. Maybe 3-3 is what the game deserved,” he said.
They were really aggressive and forced us into mistakes but we were so much better in the second half. I knew the game could be changed around, we were much better with the ball.
After the week we had we could change the game which is a very positive thing to take. Every time we need Mo Salah he scores a goal.
We are hoping and expecting he can continue this for a long time. He was outstanding in the second half, he did many special things for us.
