Key players are off form, there is unease behind the scenes and some fear the manager’s influence is waning as Liverpool come to town

Something is wrong behind the scenes at St James’ Park this season and, albeit tacitly, Eddie Howe has admitted it.

“We have had a lot of issues this summer and we continue to have them,” said Newcastle’s manager, somewhat cryptically, on Tuesday. “We’re not quite at our best. I’ve had several meetings with all the players to try and get them at their best levels to solve little issues we may have.”