Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has refused to be drawn into a row with Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot after his "smaller club" jibe amid the ongoing Alexander Isak saga. The Reds boss spoke out after the 26-year-old Sweden international, who headed for Anfield from St James' Park in a protracted £125m switch after going on strike this summer, limped out of Wednesday night's 5-1 Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt with a groin problem.

Slot later said Isak, who has one goal in eight appearances for his new club, was struggling because "you cannot compare a player who maybe hasn't trained or played in pre-season for a smaller club to then go to Liverpool."

Asked if he Liverpool he had to go in to bat for Newcastle over the "smaller club" remark given their recent re-emergence, Howe, whose side beat Liverpool in last season's Carabao Cup final, said: "I don't have to do that, I don't feel. But you obviously know what my answer would...