Eddie Howe launches passionate defence of Newcastle United's playing style amid criticism

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has come under fire recently for a lack of goals or attacking threat.

The Magpies are ranked as one of the lowest for goals scored in the league this season and are joint lowest with Everton for the number of different goal scorers in the Premier League, a figure they first in last season.

Newcastle suffered a disappointing collapse in Saturday's draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park failing to manage a single shot on target.

With an difficult game against league leaders Liverpool on the horizon Howe has a big decision to make regarding his setup.

Will he change things up or play his traditional 4-3-3 attacking football? Judging off what he said in Tuesday's press conference it looks like it will be the latter.

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Eddie Howe would rather leave Newcastle United than bore fans with defensive football

Newcastle have been known to play exciting attacking football throughout Howe's tenure. Some fans are frustrated with that, those fans may have the memory of a goldfish and don't remember the football fans had to endure under Steve Bruce and at times Rafa Benitez.

On the criticism, Howe said: "For me attacking is fundamental. It is your aim of the game. You are giving your players a purpose.

We will always going to attack. I make no apologies for that.

"I would rather not be in a job than not fulfil that promise to the supporters. We want to entertain ultimately.

"We want to play attacking football that ultimately the fans want to see. I know we are not delivering that at the moment and that is a frustration, we are not going to drop that we just have to become better than that."

Eddie Howe won't change the line-up what about the players?

While Howe needs to think about what tactics he'll play. The 47-year-old also has a decision to make over his line-up.

The Toon boss confirmed Alexander Isak's injury isn't too bad but may struggle to feature against Liverpool on Wednesday.

The debate around who the best three in midfield remains, whether we will see Sandro Tonali start successive games remains to be seen.

We predict Kieran Trippier will start on Wednesday, as our resident writer Ash Harrison says: "this feels like one of those games where Eddie Howe opts for experience"