Newcastle United were held to a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday, despite failing to register a single shot on target. The Magpies took an early lead through an own goal by Marc Guehi, who deflected Anthony Gordon’s cross into his own net. However, Palace snatched a point with a dramatic equalizer from Daniel Munoz in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The result highlights a worrying decline in Newcastle’s attacking form. Last season, under Eddie Howe, the team was one of the Premier League’s most potent sides, scoring 85 goals—only behind Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool in that regard. This season, however, their goal-scoring struggles have been evident, with just 14 goals in 13 matches.
Alan Shearer voiced his concerns on the Rest is Football podcast, noting that Newcastle’s attacking output has drastically dropped, particularly given that three of their 14 goals came in a single match against Nottingham Forest. He highlighted the need for more from players like Gordon, Barnes, Joelinton, and Willock, all of whom have yet to make a consistent impact in front of goal. Shearer also expressed hope that Alexander Isak, who has netted four or five times this season, isn’t seriously injured ahead of their crucial clash with Liverpool. He described the current situation as “concerning,” with Newcastle sitting in the lower half of the table, and stressed the need for improvement.
Despite the concerns, Howe remains optimistic about his squad. He acknowledged the struggles but reaffirmed his confidence in the team’s attacking abilities. Howe stated that while their attacking approach hasn’t changed, they are aware of the issues and are working to find solutions, confident that the players have the quality to turn things around.
