Newcastle 2-3 Everton: Déjà vu for Eddie Howe after another Premier League defeat

I think Newcastle have kept five clean sheets in their first seven league games.

In fact, it was on the other side of the pitch that Newcastle had problems at the start of the season as they began life without Alexander Isak, who went on strike in a bid to force a £125m move to Liverpool.

By contrast, Newcastle now carry a threat – with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford making a superb save to keep out Sandro Tonali’s shot late on – but they look capable of “self-collapse”, as Howe admitted.

Newcastle have conceded 23 goals since keeping a recent clean sheet in a 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last month.

Newcastle will certainly have to tighten their grip, given the amount of opposition they are set to face in the coming weeks.

“There’s always a time and place for tough words, and now we’re taking a breath,” Murphy said. “Let’s all think and look back.

“First of all, we know where mistakes were made and we have to move forward and try to correct them.

“We can’t be too emotional every time things don’t go our way. That will cause panic and that’s something we try to stay away from.”

Newcastle have lost three consecutive home league matches for the first time since Howe took charge of the relegation-threatened team in 2021.

However, in a strange way, the visit of Manchester United on Wednesday is just the kind of match that could prompt a reaction.

The players certainly don’t need any extra incentive to get up for such occasions under the lights.

The same can be said for home matches against Manchester City and Barcelona in the FA Cup and Champions League respectively in March.

But you never know what you’re going to get from that side, and therein lies the problem.

“We can step up our game when we need to,” Howe said. “However, I don’t think this is a sign of a great team.

“We have to be at this level all the time. The Premier League is very difficult. The games are very difficult no matter who you play or where you play.

“If you’re out, you’ll get punished.”