Eddie Howe regards his colleague as "one of the very, very best of

Eddie Howe is not sorry for being a bad loser as he prepares to face one of the “very, very best of all time” Premier League managers.

The Newcastle manager will send his team into Saturday’s match against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool still smarting from a 2-1 defeat at Anfield in August, courtesy of Fabio Carvalho’s goal eight minutes into stoppage time.

Klopp was less than gracious in a victory that night, lamenting the Magpies’ game management, and has since targeted their newfound spending power, prompting a stern defense from Howe.

“We are not here to do anything other than try to win the game we are competing in, and to not be the team that everyone looks at and thinks, ‘good losers,'” said the 45-year-old, who has made it a point to insist his team is not there to be liked but to win. That is not who we wish to be.

“Every day, I try to instill that in the players. I want to create a winning mindset and culture.

“I don’t need to be reminded how painful losing is.

“I did most of that during my playing career and I hated that feeling and I tried to do everything I could to not feel that going into the next game.

“As a manager, it is probably 10 times worse, maybe 100 times worse.

“I hated that feeling as a player, and I actually despise it as a manager, so you’re preparing and working to avoid it for as long as possible.”

Newcastle‘s defeat on Merseyside was the last they suffered in the Premier League some 17 games ago, and no visiting side has collected three points at St James’ Park since the Reds did so in April, a return which has left Howe’s men four places and nine points better off than Klopp’s, who have played a game fewer.

Klopp, who has won six major trophies – including the Champions League – since taking over at Anfield in October 2015, has come in for criticism over Liverpool’s recent form but has an ally in Howe.

He said: “It’s the life of a manager, really. People have very, very short memories.

“What he’s done is incredible. How his team has played over a consistent time is unrivaled so, for me, he’s one of the very, very best of all time in the Premier League.

“All teams go through difficult moments, that’s the reality of being a manager.”