Saturday, 24 April 2021

Repeat show from Reds as they flop against Newcastle

 

Another shocking result for Liverpool, coming away with a 
1-1 home draw against lowly Newcastle that has surely put paid to the Reds’ chances of qualifying for next year’s Champions League and setting back their progress as a club to pre-Jurgen Klopp days.

Liverpool went ahead after three minutes when Mo Salah swivelled in the Newcastle area and lashed the ball into the back of the net. A good start and, as chances continued to be created, expectations were for an easy afternoon and a handsome victory.

However, as one opportunity after another was missed by Sadio Mané, Mo Salah, Roberto Fiirmino and Diogo Jota – Klopp having decided to play all four of his front men in a sign of attacking intent – it became clear that Liverpool have not turned the corner and found the form in front of goal that’s been missing all season and has cost them so dearly in all competitions.

The Reds went in at half-time 1-0 up when they should have scored at least three or four and the game made into a formality. Yet, their dominance in possession, intent and opportunity was not reflected in the scoreline and Newcastle showed enough going forward – with Alain Saint-Maximin posing with his speed and power a constant worry to Liverpool’s defence, again with the midfielder Fabinho playing at centre back for the still injured Nat Phillips and the inexplicably unused January buy Ben Davies – to suggest that unless Liverpool put the game to bed, the Magpies would have enough to take something from the encounter.

And, indeed, as the second half progressed, and Liverpool continued to rush their play, misplace passes and squander chances, Newcastle hung on in and created situations where only Allisson Becker’s good goalkeeping kept them at bay.

After 85 minutes, nervousness and anxiety fully set in, Liverpool dropped ever deeper and Newcastle took over play, looking dangerous every time they came forward. An equaliser seemed inevitable, and it looked to have come in the second minute of the added four when Callum Wilson took advantage of some panicky Liverpool defending to create a chance one-on-one with Alisson. The Brazilian stopper made the save but the ball bounced up favourably for Wilson to poke it home. However, Liverpool were spared when VAR ruled the goal out for handball – the ricocheting ball deemed to have struck Wilson’s arm before he scored.

Surely, Newcastle’s deflation and the fact that there was only one minute to go would allow the Reds to see the game out. But, from the restart, Liverpool immediately gave the ball back to Newcastle and a hopeful chip into the box broke to Joe Willock. His shot deflected off Fabinho and into Liverpool’s net. A ridiculous goal, a ridiculous result, a ridiculous performance, a ridiculous season – now petering out, with Liverpool likely to end up in an unenviable Europa League spot.