Newcastle vs Liverpool – Match Report
Newcastle were stunned by ten man Liverpool, who were inspired by a Darwin Nunez brace from the bench to win 2-1.
The highly anticipated matchup at St James’ Park got off to a frantic start as Trent Alexander Arnold faced being sent off, after being booked for dissent just minutes earlier. The England fullback seemingly brought down former Evertonian Anthony Gordon, as he was sprinting to get out of his own box. Being tasked with making such a pivotal decision so early on in the game, referee John Brooks erred on the side of caution and chose not to award a second yellow card.
However, Liverpool were struggling to play out from the back in the opening period and Alexander Arnold was in the limelight for all the wrong reasons yet again, as he clumsily miscontrolled the ball to let Gordon through on goal to slot between the legs of a hapless Alisson.
It went from bad to worse though for the Reds, as skipper Virgil van Dijk was shown a straight red card, for a challenge on Alexander Isak that was the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. This was now the second straight red card in as many games for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Newcastle’s overpowering midfield were dominant in the first half but the side failed to capitalise against a frantic Liverpool side, who just managed to stay afloat.
Alisson yet again proved his status as a world class goalkeeper as he sprang into action to save a powerful volley from Miguel Almiron, diving at full stretch to tip it onto the crossbar. Despite the imposing threat carried by the Magpies’ front three, Gordon in particular, they were wasteful in front of goal in spite of Alisson’s heroics.
The introduction of Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota seemed to breathe new life into a side staring down the barrel of defeat. The Reds were able to sustain a few attacks through set pieces and Newcastle increasingly struggled to keep them at arm’s length.
Eddie Howe’s game management will be questioned following the substitution of Sandro Tonali but it was the introduction of Darwin Nunez that turned the tide. After scuppering a Liverpool attack with his heavy touch, he more than made up for it after being played in by fellow sub Jota to superbly finish a tight one on one against Nick Pope.
Klopp’s men were well and truly back in the game and quickly put the home side on the backfoot. Deep into stoppage time, Mo Salah’s delightful through ball into Nunez ensured he got the better of Dan Burn to fire in the winner for Liverpool.
Alexander Arnold’s triumphant cheer upon winning a throw in, as the game entered the dying embers, epitomised Liverpool’s performance and why they are still ‘mentality monsters’. As for Eddie Howe’s men, it can only be labelled as three points dropped, with the game being there for the taking after van Dijk’s dismissal. Newcastle clearly have some work to do before they are considered one of the big boys while this result will go down as an all-time classic for Klopp’s Liverpool.
