Tino Livramento was full of praise for one of his Newcastle United teammates after the win over Manchester City, highlighting a player he believes remains overlooked by people outside the club.
While the focus after the match naturally fell on the impressive displays from Livramento himself and Lewis Hall, the young full-back made a point of shining the spotlight on Jacob Murphy, someone he feels doesn’t receive the credit he deserves beyond the Newcastle fanbase.
The victory over Manchester City was built on energy, discipline and a return to the aggressive, front-foot football Eddie Howe demands. Having Livramento and Hall back in the side made a huge difference to Newcastle’s structure and confidence, but they were not the only players who delivered standout performances.
Malick Thiaw was commanding at the back, Bruno Guimaraes dictated the tempo with his usual class, and Harvey Barnes produced the kind of sharp, decisive display that shows exactly why he is such a threat in the Premier League. Even so, Livramento chose to highlight someone many viewers overlook, even though Newcastle fans see his importance every week.
Speaking after the match, Livramento explained that Murphy is one of the most underrated players in the league, at least in the eyes of people who don’t watch Newcastle regularly. He talked about the trust he feels when Murphy plays ahead of him, describing how the winger’s work rate and intelligence make his own job easier.
He said Murphy deserves far more recognition for everything he brings to the team, not just in attack but defensively as well. It was clear Livramento wanted people to understand how crucial Murphy’s role is, especially during big games like the one they had just played.
He pointed out that Murphy’s crossing against Manchester City could easily have resulted in two or three assists if the finishing in those moments had matched the quality of the delivery.
Livramento also spoke about how much he values Murphy’s defensive support, saying he never feels truly exposed in wide areas because he knows Murphy will track back, press, and make life harder for the opposition.
For someone returning from injury and facing a high-intensity opponent, having a winger who works that hard is invaluable.
Murphy’s numbers back up Livramento’s praise. With 14 Premier League assists in his last 46 appearances, he has quietly produced a level of creativity that puts him among some of the league’s most efficient wide players.
If a few more chances had been converted this season, that tally would already look even stronger. Over the course of his career, Murphy now has 29 Premier League assists a figure that places him alongside some very big names.
That total matches players like Fernando Torres, Freddie Ljungberg, Paul Ince, Phil Foden, John Barnes, Wilfried Zaha and Bryan Mbeumo. These are players celebrated for their quality, and Murphy has reached their numbers without the same fanfare.
If he continues at his current rate, he could climb even higher on the all-time assist charts this season. Michael Owen, Craig Bellamy and Alexis Sanchez all sit at 31 career assists, well within reach.
Yaya Toure is one step ahead on 32, joined by former Newcastle favourites Rob Lee and Laurent Robert. Roy Keane and Peter Beardsley sit at 33, while Gary Neville has 35 and Carlos Tevez is on 36. The next milestone and a particularly symbolic one is Cristiano Ronaldo, who recorded 37 Premier League assists. If Murphy maintains his form and stays fit, he could pass all of them in the coming months.
Murphy’s journey is a reminder that improvement doesn’t always happen in the spotlight. Many Newcastle supporters will tell you they’ve seen his growth long before the wider football world noticed.
His pace, pressing, delivery and defensive commitment have quietly made him one of the most useful and reliable players in Eddie Howe’s system. Livramento’s praise reflects what the dressing room already knows: Murphy is far more than just a squad player.
The admiration from a talented young teammate like Livramento shows how respected Murphy is internally, and his numbers underline how much he has contributed over the years.
As he edges closer to overtaking some of the Premier League’s biggest names, it becomes harder for the wider football world to ignore what Newcastle fans have been saying for a long time Jacob Murphy is a far better player than many people think, and he is still improving.
