Chelsea beat the reigning champions 3-1 at Stamford Bridge to significantly boost their hopes of securing Champions League qualification for next season.
Ahead of next Sunday’s trip to St James’ Park, Chelsea moved level on points with Newcastle in the Premier League table. The two sides have an identical goal difference of plus-21, but Newcastle are a place above the Blues in fourth because of goals scored.
Chelsea were deserved winners over Liverpool, but their task was made considerably easier by Slot’s decision to make wholesale changes to his starting line-up.
Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominic Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz were all absent from Liverpool’s starting side as Slot opted to play a number of his fringe players with the title already in the bag.
It has been claimed in some quarters that Slot’s selection has undermined the integrity of the Premier League, but Howe did not want to criticise the Liverpool boss.
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The Newcastle head coach said: “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. We play Chelsea next week, so that game will be all we focus on now.”
Newcastle drew 1-1 with Brighton at the Amex Stadium this afternoon, with Alexander Isak’s late penalty cancelling out Yankuba Minteh’s first-half strike.
The Magpies have three more games remaining – Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton – and are guaranteed a place in the Champions League if they claim all nine points that are available to them.
