Newcastle ‘absolutely seething’ with Jacob Murphy over incident in Everton loss
Newcastle will be completely furious with Jacob Murphy for his role in the defeat to Everton at St. James’ Park.
The Magpies went into the final day of the season knowing that a win at home against a Toffee side with little to play for would guarantee them Champions League football next season.
Alexander Isak returned from injury in time to feature against Everton, giving England target Eddie Howe a strong side to field.
However, the loss of Joelinton to injury has forced the former Bournemouth manager to change his shape to a 3-4-2-1, with Arsenal exploiting the new system when the two sides faced on Sunday, 18 May.
Murphy has been in fine form this season for Newcastle, but the winger has been forced into an unfamiliar role as a wing-back with the change of shape, and it could have cost the Magpies Champions League football.
But thanks to Man United‘s 2-0 win, the Magpies squeaked into the last qualification spot, sparing the 30-year-old’s blushes.
Jacob Murphy at fault as Everton take lead against Newcastle
With 65 minutes gone and the scores tied at 0-0, Newcastle remained in pole position to qualify for the Champions League, as Chelsea led Nottingham Forest 1-0.
But seemingly out of nowhere, an errant pass from Murphy allowed Vitaliy Mykolenko to steal in, before crossing in to Carlos Alcaraz to give the visitors the lead.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Special, former Tottenham man Michael Dawson said (25 May, 5.27pm): “This goal is huge in the Champions League race because Everton have just scored and Newcastle are going to be absolutely seething with Jacob Murphy.
“They’ve made a substitution, Sven Botman has gone off, Dan Burn has gone into the centre of the defence again, and Kieran Trippier has come on.
“Jacob Murphy’s in charge of the ball. Trippier flies down the right wing, he goes to play it, the ball’s cut out, it’s played into Mykolenko, Mykolenko dinks a ball into the box and Alcaraz, brilliant header, heads it down to Nick Pope’s left-hand post and he has no chance.
“This is the Champions League upset!”
Man United win saves Newcastle from summer exodus
Football Insider Verdict
Had Villa won against United, thus sending Newcastle into the Europa League next season, there likely would have been an exodus of players from the North East.
Isak is arguably the best striker in the league, and it would be hard to see the Swedish striker agreeing to spend another season outside of the Champions League.
Whilst Bruno Guimaraes is a fan-favourite and loves the club, he too would likely not have been keen to spend his prime years playing in second-rate competitions.
But the crisis has been averted. Newcastle scraped through. And now, the club can focus their efforts on who they want to bring in, rather than attempting to appease a bunch of stars angling for an exit.