LIVERPOOL legend Mark Lawrenson has slammed Newcastle for ‘taking the fun’ away from football.
Newcastle have been coming under increased scrutiny for supposed time-wasting on their march into the Premier League’s top four.
Manager Eddie Howe says accusations are overblown and Toon star Jacob Murphy made a cheeky gesture to Erik ten Hag after the Manchester United boss’ accusations about gamesmanship earlier this month.
But Liverpool legend Lawrenson was under no illusions as to who the worst offenders in the league were.
Lawrenson told Off The Ball: ” I’ll tell you who the worst are, I think, is Newcastle.
“Newcastle do it all the time now.
“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.”
Lawrenson believes that teams plan their time wasting antics before the game.
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He added: “It is [planned] 100 per cent. It’s very, very frustrating. It’s difficult for the referee.
“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.”
Newcastle are having a superb season and currently sit third in the Premier League and remain on track to qualify for next seasons Champions League.
Eddie Howe’s side travel to inform Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime.
