Peter Crouch says Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe 'up there with' Klopp and Guardiola this year

Peter Crouch says Eddie Howe is up there with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola for manager of the season after taking Newcastle United from a relegation spot to the top half of the table. Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Liverpool at St James’ Park today, which meant the Merseyside team went top of the Premier League. Second-placed Manchester City playing Leeds United at 5.30pm.

Former Liverpool and England striker Crouch was in the BT Sports studio for coverage of the match. Asked about Eddie Howe, Crouch said the Newcastle manager had been exceptional this season.

Crouch said: “He’s right up there with the manager of the season. Klopp and Guardiola always take precedence, but to finish not far off their best performance in the Premier League in recent seasons…

Eddie Howe says Newcastle lacked quality

“Slightly disappointing today. Some of the big players like Almiron and Saint-Maximin didn’t do enough today.”

Howe took over Newcastle United in November and when he arrived they were 19th in the league and had not won a game. They were five points off safety and the club’s morale was rock-bottom.

There was no immediate turnaround after Howe’s arrival, and instead the season continued to be a slog. As pundits pointed out, no team in Premier League history had started the season so badly and survived.

However, with the January transfer window plus the transformation of players such as Joelinton and Jonjo Shelvey, Newcastle climbed to safety. At kick-off against Liverpool, the team was ninth in the table.