Liverpool put in an impressive away performance against in-form and nouveau riche Newcastle to win 1-0 and keep the pressure on leaders Man City, due to play Leeds later in the day.
Newcastle disrupted Liverpool for the first 15 minutes of the game, pressing high, forcing mistakes and misplaced passes, casting doubt on Jurgen Klopp’s decision to make five changes from the side that beat Villarreal midweek in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, bringing in Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and James Milner, but once Liverpool got a grip of the game there only seemed to be one possible outcome.
Indeed, it was the back up players who starred for Liverpool today.
Joe Gomez coming in at right-back for Trent Alexander Arnold was particularly good, both defensively and going forward, as was the belligerent Milner – returning to one of his former clubs – and the enterprising and industrious Keita.
In fact, Milner and Keita were key players in Liverpool’s winning goal that came on 20 minutes.
A superb tackle from Milner on Fabian Schar in the last third – a challenge that had Newcastle players and fans screaming for a free kick that never was – saw the ball squirt out to Jordan Henderson who found an advancing Keita.
The Guinean international exchanged passes with Diogo Jota before calmly dummying and rounding the United keeper Martin Durbravka and thumping the ball into the net, passed the defending players on the line.
Before the break, Liverpool had chances to add to their tally,
Mané should have scored on a counter attack after being played in by Luis Diaz, while a cross from Henderson was met by Jota and his header was well saved by Dubravka, Milner should’ve done better with a shot outside the area.
These squandered chances added to the nerves as one mistake, deflection or set piece could’ve pegged Liverpool back and ended their championship challenge.
On top of the nerves was a healthy dose of frustration as further chances for the Reds came and went, with Sadio Mané being particularly wasteful.
Still, Newcastle failed to seriously threaten Liverpool and Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal only had one (routine) save to make, from a Bruno Guimaraes shot from outside the area.
With the effort exerted by Klopp’s men and the nerves shredded by the fans, this felt like a significant win for Liverpool.
However, as the afternoon unfolded and Manchester City crushed a hopelessly average Leeds 4-0, the magnitude of the task of toppling the reigning champs became apparent.
Not only did City with their thumping of Leeds go back ahead of Liverpool at the top of the league by one point but they have also caught the Reds’ goal difference, which is now down to one.
Four games left for both City and Liverpool.
The Reds’ next league game is a tough looking home encounter with Spurs, while City play Newcastle at the Etihad.
After that, City have games to play against West Ham, Wolves and Aston Villa, while Liverpool will have games against Southampton, Wolves and Aston Villa.
It seems that only a freak result will deprive Pep Guardiola’s men of the points that might let Liverpool in, assuming Liverpool are able to take maximum points from their games.
Increasingly, it seems that Liverpool’s failure to take three points off City in the recent game at the Etihad – the game, which City should’ve won, ended 2-2 – will cost Liverpool the title.
There will be an opportunity for revenge in the Champions League final, assuming both sides get there. Liverpool have one foot in Paris and will hope to finish off the job against Villarreal on Tuesday while City, though favourites, will have a trickier game against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Even though City outplayed Real in the first leg and should’ve finished the tie there and then, sloppiness and Real relentless saw the game end 4-3 to City and the Spanish champions in with a chance to progress.
Newcastle disrupted Liverpool for the first 15 minutes of the game, pressing high, forcing mistakes and misplaced passes, casting doubt on Jurgen Klopp’s decision to make five changes from the side that beat Villarreal midweek in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, bringing in Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota and James Milner, but once Liverpool got a grip of the game there only seemed to be one possible outcome.
Indeed, it was the back up players who starred for Liverpool today.
Joe Gomez coming in at right-back for Trent Alexander Arnold was particularly good, both defensively and going forward, as was the belligerent Milner – returning to one of his former clubs – and the enterprising and industrious Keita.
In fact, Milner and Keita were key players in Liverpool’s winning goal that came on 20 minutes.
A superb tackle from Milner on Fabian Schar in the last third – a challenge that had Newcastle players and fans screaming for a free kick that never was – saw the ball squirt out to Jordan Henderson who found an advancing Keita.
The Guinean international exchanged passes with Diogo Jota before calmly dummying and rounding the United keeper Martin Durbravka and thumping the ball into the net, passed the defending players on the line.
Before the break, Liverpool had chances to add to their tally,
Mané should have scored on a counter attack after being played in by Luis Diaz, while a cross from Henderson was met by Jota and his header was well saved by Dubravka, Milner should’ve done better with a shot outside the area.
These squandered chances added to the nerves as one mistake, deflection or set piece could’ve pegged Liverpool back and ended their championship challenge.
On top of the nerves was a healthy dose of frustration as further chances for the Reds came and went, with Sadio Mané being particularly wasteful.
Still, Newcastle failed to seriously threaten Liverpool and Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal only had one (routine) save to make, from a Bruno Guimaraes shot from outside the area.
With the effort exerted by Klopp’s men and the nerves shredded by the fans, this felt like a significant win for Liverpool.
However, as the afternoon unfolded and Manchester City crushed a hopelessly average Leeds 4-0, the magnitude of the task of toppling the reigning champs became apparent.
Not only did City with their thumping of Leeds go back ahead of Liverpool at the top of the league by one point but they have also caught the Reds’ goal difference, which is now down to one.
Four games left for both City and Liverpool.
The Reds’ next league game is a tough looking home encounter with Spurs, while City play Newcastle at the Etihad.
After that, City have games to play against West Ham, Wolves and Aston Villa, while Liverpool will have games against Southampton, Wolves and Aston Villa.
It seems that only a freak result will deprive Pep Guardiola’s men of the points that might let Liverpool in, assuming Liverpool are able to take maximum points from their games.
Increasingly, it seems that Liverpool’s failure to take three points off City in the recent game at the Etihad – the game, which City should’ve won, ended 2-2 – will cost Liverpool the title.
There will be an opportunity for revenge in the Champions League final, assuming both sides get there. Liverpool have one foot in Paris and will hope to finish off the job against Villarreal on Tuesday while City, though favourites, will have a trickier game against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Even though City outplayed Real in the first leg and should’ve finished the tie there and then, sloppiness and Real relentless saw the game end 4-3 to City and the Spanish champions in with a chance to progress.
