Simon Jordan responds to claim Arne Slot showed Newcastle United ‘zero respect’

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Newcastle United are locked in a very tight battle for Champions League qualification and saw the pressure increase somewhat over the course of the weekend.

Indeed, Newcastle United dropped points with a 1-1 draw at Brighton. While that was by no means a terrible result, the fact that all of Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa won their Premier League games put the pressure on Eddie Howe’s side.  

Things are remarkably tight towards the top five in the Premier League table. Howe could certainly have done without Chelsea beating newly-crowned champions Liverpool just hours after their draw on the south coast, particularly as the Blues visit St James’ Park on Sunday.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
2	ArsenalArsenal	35	18	13	4	64	31	33	67
3	Man CityManchester City	35	19	7	9	67	43	24	64
4	NewcastleNewcastle	35	19	6	10	66	45	21	63
5	ChelseaChelsea	35	18	9	8	62	41	21	63
6	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	35	18	7	10	54	42	12	61

Reds boss Arne Slot confirmed he would rotate his Liverpool squad ahead of the Chelsea game and that proved to be the case. Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott were among those handed reasonably rare starts.

While clearly not wholesale changes, Howe was asked about the matter last weekend. He rather diplomatically said (via The Guardian): “Liverpool have got to do what Liverpool have got to do for them. I’m not involved in their football club, so I’ve got no opinion on that.”

Pundit Simon Jordan was also quizzed on Liverpool’s team selection.

Simon Jordan responds to claims Liverpool showed Newcastle United no respect

Writing in The Daily Mail, the former Crystal Palace owner responded to questions from supporters.

It was put to Jordan by a reader that Slot’s team selection at Stamford Bridge showed the other Champions League contenders – of which Newcastle are one – “zero respect.” The correspondent asked if the Dutchman should be “reminded of his obligations.”

However, the pundit claimed the Liverpool boss had no obligation to do Newcastle, Nottingham Forest or any of the other teams a favour.

“Slot doesn’t have a responsibility to other clubs,” he wrote.

“His job is to manage Liverpool and achieve the best outcomes for them without any concern for Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest or anyone else.”

• READ MORE: Alan Shearer’s warning to Newcastle United before Chelsea showdown

Eddie Howe right to avoid Liverpool question

Sunday was probably a good time to play Liverpool. While they still had a very good team out against the Blues, it was natural they’d be slightly off the boil having wrapped up the Premier League title only a week before.

Howe is right, he cannot control what any other manager decides to do. If Newcastle don’t qualify for the Champions League, it won’t be because Endo, Quansah and Elliott started against Enzo Maresca’s side.

Newcastle United vs Chelsea is a huge game in the Champions League battle and what happened last week will have little relevance.

It would have been a boost to see Liverpool beat Chelsea last week but it’s gone now. Full focus has to be on Sunday’s game.