Arne Slot aims brutal dig at Newcastle and Eddie Howe after Liverpool's last-minute winner

Arne Slot appeared to aim a dig at Newcastle United and Eddie Howe after Liverpool's thrilling victory.

Premier League champions Liverpool had to dig deep on Monday night as they were faced with a fired-up Newcastle side at St. James' Park.

Showing why they became champions, Ryan Gravenberch stunned the home crowd with a brilliant finish in the 35th minute despite being on the back foot.

Anthony Gordon was then shown a red card after a horrendous challenge on Reds skipper Virgil van Dijk.

In the second half, Hugo Ekitike made it 2-0 before Newcastle mounted a monumental comeback thanks to goals by Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula.

However, Liverpool had the last laugh as youngster Rio Ngumoha scored a last-gasp winner to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Reds boss Slot appeared to criticise the hosts' approach when analysing the action.

The Dutchman said: "I'm not too sure if I saw a football match today. It was set-piece after set-piece, long throw.

"It didn't have a lot to do with tactics, what I said before the game, but I liked a lot how we stood strong. Very difficult first half hour, 45 minutes, but we didn't collapse at all, we stood strong."

Slot continued: "Going down to 10 men, you would expect that that is a big plus for us, but when a goalkeeper takes every free kick, then there's not so much help if you are one player up, and that's why it was so difficult for us to bring the 2-0 over the line.

"I don't think there was so much open play to be played. In a set-piece, a long throw-in, a long ball from the goalkeeper, you don't need an extra man." You can watch the footage below.

In truth, when Newcastle had 11 men on the pitch, they were dominating Liverpool who were finding it difficult to get out of their own half.

However, the Gravenberch goal halted Newcastle's momentum and the Gordon sending off rubbed salt into the Magpies' wounds.

In the end, Howe's men produced a valiant effort, but Liverpool were the ones handed the fairytale ending through Ngumoha's stunning moment.

This weekend, Liverpool will take on Arsenal in another mouth-watering clash at Anfield. Meanwhile, Newcastle will be up against newly-promoted Leeds United at Elland Road.