Reds win again… so do City, as games start to run out in title race

 

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.

Trent rocket secures tricky win over Magpies

The scoreline of 3-1 suggests an easy victory for Liverpool against lowly and, despite their Saudi billions and new manager (Eddie Howe), seemingly relegation doomed Newcastle United.

However, this was another nervy and frustrating game for the Reds, following similarly anxious and close matches against Wolves and Aston Villa, both of which were won but only by the narrowest of margins.

Indeed, failure to win against a basement club at Anfield after main title contenders Manchester City had, the night before, battered Leeds 7-0 to open a four point gap against Liverpool would have dealt a mental blow to the Reds, especially since Chelsea, another championship challenger, have been dropping points of late, most recently at Stamford Bridge to struggling Everton, which the West London club only managed a 1-1 draw against.

Things got off to a bad start  for Liverpool before kick off when it was confirmed that three of their players – Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones – had all tested positive for Covid and would now be isolating. Van Dijk and Fabinho would certainly have started against the Magpies. In for them came Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in midfield and Ibrahima Konate at centre back.

Liverpool suffered another shock when ex-Red Jonjo Shelvey, after seven minutes, latched onto a weak clearance from Thiago Alcantara, who actually had time and space to control the ball in the Reds area where he was defending and pick a pass, and took advantage of Jordan Henderson’s half-hearted effort to close him down to place a clever curling strike into the corner of Alisson Becker’s net, the Brazilian keeper perhaps at fault for not anticipating the trajectory of the ball and getting wrong-footed.

Even though the goal was conceded early, Liverpool’s response was rushed if not panicky and Reds fans could’ve been forgiven for thinking it was going to be one of those nights where things just don’t go for you.

Anxieties were eased, however, on 21 minutes when Diogo Jota slammed the ball home after his header was parried into his path by Magpies keeper Martin Dubravka, who perhaps should’ve done better with the initial effort.

Newcastle were aggrieved that the phase of play wasn’t stopped by referee Mike Dean, after Newcastle defenders had collided with each other trying to clear the initial cross, with Isaac Hayden ending up on the ground in the six yard area holding his head. There was no whistle and Liverpool couldn’t be blamed for playing on (and scoring) but Eddie Howe was furious that the attack wasn’t halted to allow treatment to his player.

It was a tricky situation. Hayden wasn’t badly hurt but the rule is that a head injury requires the immediate cessation of play. However, invariable application of that rule would mean that defenders could simply go down holding their heads to stop play and thwart an attack or the build up of pressure. Dean had to make a decision as to how seriously Hayden was hurt, whether there was an element of feigning his injury to get play stopped, and his conclusion to allow Liverpool’s attack to continue benefited the Reds.

Indeed, four minutes later, with Newcastle still reeling from the injustice, from their point of view, of the equaliser, a rancid back pass from Shelvey put Sadio Mané through one-on-one with Dubravka, whose save rebounded to Mo Salah who slammed the ball into the back of the net.

It should be added that between Liverpool’s first and second goals, Thiago was again guilty of sloppy play that allowed Alain Saint-Maximin through. His shot was well saved by Alisson down low, but it was concerning to see that these dangerous giveaways from Thiago, which blighted his early appearances with the Reds, haven’t been completely eradicated from his game.

While everyone expected Liverpool to add to the 2-1 scoreline and make the game safe, the team in fact created few chances. Newcastle grew in confidence and, from the 70th minute, an equaliser looked possible.

Roberto Firmino, returning from a six-week injury layoff, came on for Mo Salah – who looked disgruntled at being taken off – and his silky link up and layoff play reassured, and, indeed, it was his controlled pass to Trent Alexander Arnold on the edge of the Newcastle area after 87 minutes that allowed the Reds full-back to unleash a powerful, accurate, unstoppable shot into the top of the net and finally end Newcastle’s resistance and threat and put the game to bed.

Next up for Liverpool is a Sunday game away at Tottenham, who haven’t played their last two games because of a Covid outbreak at the North London club. It remains to be seen if the game can go ahead.

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.

Another draw for Reds as struggling Newcastle keep them at bay

Another flat performance from the Reds saw them drop two more points against a team in the bottom half of the league. Previously, Newcastle had been short of confidence and struggling for form, but against the champions they upped their game and managed to hold them off for large parts of the game and were rewarded with a goalless draw. There were chances for Liverpool – Mo Salah was particularly wasteful – but a victory would have flattered Liverpool. Apart from Salah, Trent Alexander Arnold was another poor performer – his entire season has not matched his exploits of the last two years – with some terrible passes and set-piece execution. This was Liverpool’s sixth draw of the season. Hopeful signs were the return from injury of Thiago Alcantara, whose acuity was clear for all to see; though it’ll probably be the return of Diogo Jota that Jurgen Klopp must be most looking forward to. The Portuguese international’s finishing prowess has been sorely missed.

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Liverpool beat Newcastle to end on 99 points

Champions Liverpool finished on the second-highest points total in top-flight history as they came from behind to beat Newcastle on the final day of the season.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds accumulated 99 points, one fewer than Manchester City managed two years ago, and one more than Liverpool managed in 1978-79, once the two points they got for a win back then is altered to three.

They finished 18 points above Pep Guardiola's runners-up - one short of City's record winning margin two seasons ago.

Dwight Gayle put Newcastle ahead after 25 seconds from Jonjo Shelvey's free-kick, the fastest goal ever scored on a Premier League final day.

But Liverpool, who left their vaunted front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino on the bench, levelled through Virgil van Dijk's header.

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Reds go five clear after Newcastle win

There are days when you must accept magnificence in the opposition ranks and your punishment. This was one of them for Steve Bruce. His Newcastle team were committed, disciplined and belligerent at Anfield; they took the lead in stunning style and they were still cut apart by the brilliant precision of Liverpool’s attack. It was a perfect day for the leaders with Manchester City failing in such unexpected fashion at Carrow Road in the evening.

Sadio Mané struck twice and Mohamed Salah once as Liverpool recorded a 14th consecutive Premier League win and extended their unbeaten league run to 22 games, their longest under Jürgen Klopp. The pair were indebted to sublime assists from Roberto Firmino, who came off the bench to turn an awkward assignment into a comfortable triumph with some magisterial touches. Jetro Willems’ thumping early strike and the league leaders’ difficulties were long forgotten by the time Salah sealed another three points, to take them five clear at the head of the table.

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Origi keeps Liverpool title hopes alive

Jürgen Klopp claimed destiny will decide whether Liverpool win the Premier League after Divock Origi’s “fairytale” winner at Newcastle ensured the title race will go to the final day of the season. The Liverpool manager’s euphoria was offset by confirmation Roberto Firmino, and possibly Mohamed Salah, will miss Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona.

Salah was carried off at St James’ Park with a head injury sustained in an accidental collision with the Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The Egypt international, who scored his 22nd league goal of the campaign in the 3-2 win, will be observed for concussion before a decision is taken on his involvement against Barcelona. His replacement, Origi, headed in the 86th-minute goal that gave Liverpool a two-point lead over Manchester City ahead of the final weekend of the season.

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Reds thrash Newcastle to go six points clear at top of league

Word of Ricardo Pereira’s winner for Leicester against Manchester City spread like an electric pulse through Anfield. Liverpool were coasting at the time against Newcastle but now the entire stadium became charged, standing as one and singing with greater conviction about winning the league. With more justification too. Liverpool believe.

The 100th victory of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign moved his team six points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table, seven clear of City, and extended their unbeaten run at Anfield to 30 league games. On current form, which is improving from a position of strength, they will take some stopping in the second half of the season. Dejan Lovren, a controversial Mohamed Salah penalty, Xherdan Shaqiri and the substitute Fabinho spread the goals through a team that is clicking at precisely the same moment as the reigning champions falter.

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