'Not the sign of a top team' - Newcastle take huge step backwards

To think Newcastle kept five clean sheets in their opening seven league fixtures.

In fact, it was at the other end of the pitch where Newcastle had issues at the start of the campaign as they began life without Alexander Isak, who went on strike in an effort to force through a £125m move to Liverpool.

By contrast, Newcastle are now carrying a threat - Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to make a superb save to keep out Sandro Tonali's volley late on - but they look capable of "self-imploding", as Howe recognised.

Newcastle have let in a whopping 23 goals since they kept their most recent clean sheet in a 3-0 win against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last month.

Newcastle will certainly have to tighten up, given the calibre of opposition they are due to face in the coming weeks.

"There's always a time and place for stern words and now we take a breather," Murphy said. "Let's all reflect, look back.

"First and foremost, we know where mistakes happened and we've got to go forward and try and iron them out.

"We can't get hyper-emotional every time something doesn't go our way. It will just cause panic and that's something we try to stay away from."

Newcastle have lost three home league games in a row for the first time since Howe took charge of a relegation-threatened side in 2021.

However, in a strange way, the visit of Manchester United on Wednesday is just the kind of game that could trigger a response.

The players certainly need no added motivation to get up for such occasions under the lights.

The same can be said for home fixtures against Manchester City and Barcelona in the FA Cup and Champions League respectively in March.

But you never quite know what you are going to get from this side - and therein lies the problem.

"We can raise our game when we need to," Howe said. "I don't think that's a sign of a top team, though.

"We have to be at that level all the time. The Premier League is so tough. The games are so difficult regardless of who you play or where you play.

"If you are off, you are going to get punished."