Mark Lawrenson hits out at Newcastle and claims they are ‘taking the fun away’ from football

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson claims Newcastle United are taking the fun out of football as he wades in on talk of gamesmanship. The Magpies have come under increased scrutiny for supposed timewasting, with Eddie Howe hitting back at claims stating those accusations were overblown.

Jacob Murphy poked fun at Erik Ten Hag's gamesmanship accusations at full-time, pointing to his watch following the win over the Red Devils at St. James' Park. However, Lawrenson has doubled down on those time wasting accusations after he was asked about an incident in Liverpool's draw with league leaders Arsenal, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale down on the floor receiving treatment.

The Gunners' shot stopper received medical attention in the first-half with Arsenal ahead at Anfield, allowing Arsenal players to head over to the touchline to receive instructions. Lawrenson was left frustrated by supposed time wasting, telling Off The Ball: "It is [planned] 100%. It's very, very frustrating. It's difficult for the referee.

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"All of a sudden if they go down and stay down, then the ref has no other option. He might go over and say 'are you alright' to the player who's injured and they'll respond 'no I've done this, or that.'

"That's crept into football and, for me, it takes some of the fun away from it. All of a sudden, teams now realise and I'll tell you who the worst are, I think, is Newcastle.

"Newcastle do it all the time now. In regards to next season, not wanting to wish away this season, in regards to the next season I think the Premier League are going to have a little bit of a look at this.

"Maybe even say 'I tell you what, if you can walk, off you go', and the game will go on and I think that would quickly stop it. It's genuinely here all the time now."

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