Eddie Howe was not laughing a year ago, when Newcastle were beaten 4-2 at Liverpool and conceded 34 shots with an xG (expected goals) against of 7.27, an unwanted Premier League record.
‘Thanks for bringing that stat up, that’s a nice reminder of that night!’ said Howe on Friday, when I revisited the New Year’s Day battering at Anfield. This time, though, he was laughing.
As well he might. The context of reminding Howe of ‘that night’, as he put it, is that Newcastle currently have, on form, the Premier League’s meanest rearguard.