Jurgen Klopp had a cheeky dig at Newcastle United last weekend, and Eddie Howe has now been given the chance to respond. Unsurprisingly, he was as classy as ever.
The Premier League have enforced a rule change this season that means only one coach can be at the front of the technical area. This has created a problem for Newcastle, as Howe and Jason Tindall are normally side by side during the Magpies’ games.
Now they are having to rotate on the touchline, which has created a fresh dynamic for the Newcastle coaching team.
What Jurgen Klopp said about Newcastle
Klopp was asked about the rule change last week following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, and gave a response that got a huge laugh from journalists.
He said: “It’s like that in the Champions League anyway. I think it’s only a problem for one team: Newcastle. Sorry!”
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
It was obviously a joke, but a needless one. If Klopp had watched the Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest game a day earlier, he would have seen Mikel Arteta and his coaching team getting away with breaking the rules already.
It was a bit needless from the Liverpool manager, who certainly is not popular among Toon fans.
Now Newcastle boss Howe has been given the chance to bite back, and provided a rather dignified response.
Eddie Howe responds to Klopp’s jibe in professional fashion
Ahead of this weekend’s game against Manchester City, Howe has spoke to the media. He was asked by Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie about Klopp’s comments regarding Newcastle and the changes to the rules for the technical area.
“I think the rules do impact us slightly more than other teams just because of the way we work historically,” he said.
“This hasn’t been a new thing for me and Jason. For as long as I’ve been in management, that’s how we’ve worked. It’s not something we’ve just done.
“I didn’t find it too bad last week. We dovetailed in and out the area. It worked. We talked. I wouldn’t have noticed a big change from previously.”
Howe couldn’t have said it better. The rules do impact Newcastle, but they are adapting.
But the Magpies are not the only team that will be effected. We are just perhaps the most obvious example because of how much of a double team Howe and Tindall are.
It was unnecessary from Klopp, who clearly knows how to push the buttons of Toon fans. He got his fishing rod out, and we certainly had a bite! But not Howe, he was measured in his response.
There will no doubt be more back and forth very soon, with Newcastle set to welcome Klopp and Liverpool to St James’ Park on August 27th.