What Mike Dean told Newcastle boss Howe about not stopping the game after Hayden’s head injury

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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has revealed what Mike Dean told him about Liverpool’s controversial equaliser at Anfield last night.

The Magpies shocked the stadium by opening the scoring after just seven minutes. Jonjo Shelvey scored a brilliant goal, but Newcastle’s joy only lasted for 14 minutes. Diogo Jota equalised for the hosts, but Howe and every Toon fan is adamant that the goal should not have counted.

Just before Jota scored, Isaac Hayden went down holding his head following a Liverpool corner. Referee Dean completely ignored it and Liverpool were under no obligation to stop the game. They went on and scored and Howe was furious.

The Magpies boss believes that the decision completely changed the game. He also revealed what Dean told him about the incident after the game.

What Mike Dean told Newcastle boss Eddie Howe about Hayden’s head injury

Howe was quizzed about Liverpool’s opening goal in his post-match interview on BT Sport.

He said, as quoted by Sky Sports: “I’m really disappointed with Liverpool’s first goal. I need to see it again but it was clear to me that Isaac went down holding his head immediately. In my opinion, the game should have been stopped.

“It’s had a huge bearing on the game. We had the lead. It feels unjust and I feel it was doubly hard on our players.

“I think [the referee Mike Dean] said to me he felt Isaac had held his back, for me, he held his head. He was dazed for four or five minutes. It’s a dangerous moment where we have to think about the player’s safety. I don’t think you want to see games decided when players are out of the game.”

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We don’t know what Mike Dean’s view was, but it was very clear to us that Hayden went down holding his head.

The game should’ve been stopped at that point, but it didn’t. Newcastle conceded and Liverpool capitalised on their momentum. Salah scored just four minutes after Jota and the Reds went into the break with a lead.

It was always going to be difficult for Newcastle to get back into the game from that point. However, they did try and on another day, they could’ve pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

Howe will be disappointed with the refereeing, but he will have plenty of positives to take from the way his side performed at what is arguably the toughest ground in the Premier League.