‘It looks like’ - Jamie Carragher highlights what attribute Newcastle United are missing from last season

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Newcastle United lack the “intensity” that secured Champions League football last season.

A drop-off from 2022-23 has seen the Magpies sliding to 10th in the Premier League. They now face a battle to secure any form of European football next year - a move that could have ramifications for their spending power.

A sluggish performance against Chelsea means Newcastle have now conceded the joint most away goals in the top flight this season. Defensive stability proved the bedrock of Eddie Howe’s top-four charge but that has come undone in recent times - especially on the road.

Injuries to Dan Burn and Anthony Gordon - as well as Harvey Barnes pre-game - added insult to injury for Newcastle ahead of a crunch FA Cup clash with Manchester City. As for the Premier League, a double-header against West Ham United and Everton at home could define the Magpies’ campaign.

Speaking after the Chelsea loss, former Liverpool defender Carragher admitted he “adored” watching Newcastle last year, drawing parallels to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, but slammed their recent nosedive in form. The Sky Sports pundit said: "I adored Newcastle last season. It was their intensity, and it took me back to when Jurgen Klopp first came in at Liverpool where people were running everywhere.

"It looks like a team who are almost ready for the end of the season. If I just looked at that performance and I didn't know this team, that is not acceptable the way they defended. This is an average Chelsea team, let's not forget that."