Newcastle

All players prepare differently. On the other side of the pitch, warming up with the replacements, Newcastle United's new signing Anthony Gordon was trying to ...

[Sean Longstaff](https://theathletic.com/football/player/sean-longstaff-7Ojikm1AllZmbNPd/) would drop back to No 6 due to [Bruno Guimaraes](https://theathletic.com/football/player/bruno-guimaraes-V37ZKsSxbOJRHxeY/)’ suspension, with Joelinton subsequently filling in at No 8. [Newcastle United](https://theathletic.com/football/team/newcastle-united/)’s new signing [Anthony Gordon](https://theathletic.com/football/player/anthony-gordon-XWTlQLC5wKZFGPRN/) was trying to make an impression. He had barely escaped the middle of a rondo when [Matt Ritchie](https://theathletic.com/football/player/matt-ritchie-nppXQ4xJxrf7bPky/) underhit a pass. “He (Gordon) injected some life into us in a time when we needed it in the game,” Newcastle’s head coach said. But he also produced his least creative performance of the campaign, producing an expected assists (xA) total of 0.01. There was mitigation to Saint-Maximin’s performance. “I’m very proud to be here, for sure, but the most important thing for me is to play. The next highest Newcastle player was Willock with 80. He gave the ball away dangerously in transition four times and contributed an individual expected goals (xG) number of 0.10 — the second-lowest figure in any game he has started this season. “That’s the most important thing the coach wants from me.” “(But) I think you have to accept players for their strengths. [West Ham](https://theathletic.com/football/team/west-ham-united/), Howe had a choice.