Liverpool 1 - 1 Newcastle United

Liverpool: Salah 3’
Newcastle United: Willock 90+5’

Pre-Match

Klopp once again puts out a team that contains both Firmino and Jota, with Firmino farthest forward. It’s a gorgeous, sunny day at Anfield as the Reds take on Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United.

First Half

Liverpool seem content to pass the ball around near the halfway line, patiently waiting for an opening in the early minutes of this game.

GOALLL! Salah 3’ - It’s not long before that moment comes. Mané, given the freedom to play very wide in this formation, whips a cross into the box. A Newcastle player heads it up and away, but it only gets as far as Salah. Salah lets it bounce once, turns his back to goal to get around his defender, maintains control of the ball, and hits it in with his left foot. That’s a strong early goal for the Reds.

Eight minutes in, Ozan Kabak gets a yellow card for fouling Allan Saint-Maximin near the halfway line when it looked like the Frenchman was about to run clear. Not loving the early yellow for our defender.

Saint-Maximin has been Newcastle’s most potent threat, leading nearly every counterattack from Newcastle, who are not shy about showing their intention of scoring on the break.

28 minutes in, Salah skins the ball off of Ciaran Clark inside of Newcastle’s six-yard box, but somehow Liverpool don’t manage to capitalize. The attack ends with Jota floating the ball well wide of the goal.

Another great chance on the break goes begging. This time it’s Mané who can’t make it past Martin Dubravka, who throws himself onto the ball and smothers the attempt.

The break comes and it’s still Salah’s goal that’s the difference between the two teams.

Second Half

The second half starts in the same way that the first half ended. Liverpool remains dominate in possession but unable to convert any of their chances.

In the 55th minute, Alisson makes a big save to deny Joelinton from evening the score.

No surprise that the first sub is Milner on for Jota. Jota has very much had One Of Those Days where nothing went the way he’d imagined it in his head. I feel you, bro.

This match is so incredibly frustrating. So many perfect opportunities spurned by Liverpool as they flat out refuse to get the back on target, no matter how simple the chance.

76’ minute, Klopp gets his second substitute on. This time it’s the returning Curtis Jones for Thiago.

Milner does well to control the ball and get a shot (on target!) which is saved by Dubravka, and the cycle continues.

Goal :( Callum Wilson 90+1’ - Newcastle’s last ditch pressure pays off and Wilson scores into stoppage time.

Oh, oh! But VAR has ruled there was a handball...somewhere? Somehow? I mean, ok. VAR has gone against us so many times, I’ll take the small victory.

Never mind, the universe has had its say, and Newcastle finds their way to another goal from Joseph Willock seconds before the final whistle.

Final Thoughts

Can’t say Liverpool deserved the three points after missing so many excellent chances. So it goes.