Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has fired at striker Alexander Isak who is trying to force a move out of the club amid interest from Liverpool.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has declared he is focusing his energy on players “who want to play for Newcastle” after a dramatic 100th-minute winner from 16-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha sealed a stunning victory for Liverpool.

The crushing defeat came amid a backdrop of turmoil surrounding star striker Alexander Isak, who is reportedly trying to force a move to Liverpool and is training separately from the squad. Howe’s ten-man team had shown immense spirit to fight back to 2-2 after Anthony Gordon’s first-half red card, only to be denied a point at the death.

Howe claimed to be unaware of a last-ditch effort by the club’s owners to persuade Isak to abandon his strike. The Swedish international was not present at St James’ Park, but it is understood that minority owner Jamie Reuben met with the striker earlier in the day.

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“I am not aware of a meeting with the owners, but I have not been party to talks [about Isak’s future] for a long time,” said the Newcastle manager. “I have been preparing the team, giving my energy to players who want to play for Newcastle. I have no idea where things stand.”

The match was watched by Newcastle’s chairman, Yasir al-Rumayyan, who made a rare appearance alongside fellow members of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. “I don’t know why he is here,” Howe commented. “His presence is much appreciated from my perspective. He is the owner and he is the most important person in terms of any decisions we make.”

Howe expressed his desire for a swift resolution to the Isak situation. “That would be ideal,” he said. “We want clarity to move forward and to change the narrative. We have given two really good performances and ended up with one point. Alex’s quality would have made a difference in the two games.”

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Howe praised his team’s character. “I’ve very mixed feelings tonight. It was a great performance from us. I’m gutted for the players,” he stated. On Gordon’s dismissal, he added, “Everyone had told me Anthony’s card was a clear red but I think he was slightly unlucky. There was no intent to damage [Virgil] van Dijk but he’s probably gone in too quickly.”

He continued to laud the players who were on the pitch: “These players make me proud. They are entwined into Newcastle, they want to be here and want to play. They are connected to the club in a way that is really deep. There is no intentional dig to Alex, but naturally I want players that are committed to Newcastle.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot remained tight-lipped about the Isak transfer saga. “This is not the moment or the place to talk about that,” he said. Instead, he focused on the chaotic match and his team’s resilience.

“My main emotion is relief,” Slot admitted. “This means more to me than a 5-0 win. This had nothing to do with tactics. It was a great game to watch but it was a game that was impossible for us to control. The fans were so loud, the atmosphere was unbelievable. I’m not sure it was a football match but we found a way to win.”

He also praised his young match-winner, Ngumoha. “It was a great goal for a 16-year-old. Rio can finish so well for his age. I did hear someone say afterwards in the dressing room he would have taken a first touch, but he is so confident. For his age, he is a really good finisher.”