Eddie Howe says £32m Newcastle player was a shining light in defeat to Chelsea

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Newcastle United were not at their best against Chelsea last night as they fell to a 12th league defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge.

It was a disappointing performance overall from the team, but there was one Newcastle played who really stood out as a positive for the visitors.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Eddie Howe said that he was impressed with Tino Livramento’s performance both at right-back and left-back when he made the switch in the second half.

Livramento can hold his head high after Chelsea performance

There were few things to get excited about for Newcastle fans during the game, but Livramento’s performances was one of the few shining lights for the visitors in what was otherwise a terrible night.

Newcastle were unfortunate to lose Kieran Trippier to injury last week against Wolves, but it has now given the £32m signing the chance to impress Howe and show why he should be involved in the team more often.

The 21-year-old was solid defensively against Chelsea and helped out down the right with Newcastle’s attack, though there’s only so much he can do from the right-back position.

If nothing else, at least the travelling fans will be able to take comfort in the fact that they’ve got a very good replacement for Trippier when he either leaves or retires in the next few years.

On Livramento, Howe said: “I thought he attacked really well, especially in the first half, and then when he came to left-back he came back into the game. I thought it was a good performance from him.”

Newcastle at risk of dropping below Chelsea

Last night’s defeat means that Newcastle stay in 10th in the Premier League just one point ahead of Chelsea who could overtake them should they win their game in hand.

That would put the Geordies in the bottom half of the table, a position not many would have expected them to be in at the beginning of the season but a number of different factors has culminated in some disappointing results.

Monday’s game was just another set back for Howe and his men who have had to dig in really deep this season, and now they have just nine games left to make a big push and save what they can of their campaign.

Newcastle are pretty much now fighting for seventh place and a chance to play in Europe next season, though with more performances last night they’ll have little chance.