Howe says he wants ‘players who are committed to Newcastle’ after defeat by Liverpool

• Newcastle owners met with on-strike Alexander Isak

• Manager wants ‘clarity’ quickly over forward’s future

Eddie Howe said he was investing all his energy in players “who want to play for Newcastle” after his side were sent to a stunning defeat by the 16-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha’s ­100th-minute winner for Liverpool.

Howe, whose 10-man team had fought back to level at 2-2 after Anthony Gordon’s first-half red card, claimed to be unaware of a last-ditch bid by the club’s owners to persuade Alexander Isak to abandon his one-man strike.