The Liverpool Offside - Newcastle v. Liverpool, 04.27.13Zeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2013-04-27T19:58:41+01:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/40323712013-04-27T19:58:41+01:002013-04-27T19:58:41+01:00Recap: Much-Needed Relief
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<figcaption>Gareth Copley</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool run it up on a combative but unimpressive Newcastle side, getting braces from Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson to go along with an excellent display from Philippe Coutinho.</p> <blockquote>
<p><b>Newcastle 0</b> <br><b>Liverpool 6:</b> <i>Agger 3', Henderson 17', Sturridge 54', 60', Borini 74', Henderson 76'</i></p>
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<p>With <span>Luis Suarez</span> out, the most likely move was always going to be <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> in a straight-swap, which turned out to be the only change Brendan Rodgers made in terms of personnel. There was, however, a shift in the setup, with <span>Jordan Henderson</span> shifting left and <span>Philippe Coutinho</span> playing centrally, a switch that many have been calling for in recent weeks.</p>
<p>Any doubts about how Liverpool would cope with the Suarez-shaped hole in their eleven were erased almost immediately, as the visitor's pressure combined with farcical Newcastle defending to gift <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110183/daniel-agger">Daniel Agger</a> a free header for the opener. Liverpool had already threatened in the opening minutes, and a quick cross back into the area by Stewart Downing found Agger--who'd smartly ghosted past a lazy opposition back line--to head in over a helpless Robert Elliot.</p>
<p>The Liverpool pressure and Newcastle capitulation continued from there, with the hosts seeing little of the ball and Liverpool adding another on a lightning-quick break. Sturridge's knock-down to Coutinho was received with just enough patience to allow for Sturridge to streak into space, and faced with a one-on-one with Elliot, the striker opted to play in Henderson, who'd followed play down the left and finished coolly with his left foot into an empty net.</p>
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<p>Newcastle woke up as the first half wore on and looked destined to pull one back--Liverpool eased off the pressure, as they're so frustratingly wont to do, and the hosts pushed forward for the rest of the first half and the early part of the second. An exceedingly chippy end to the first half saw Andre Marriner book nearly everyone with a pulse except for the villainous Cheick Tiote, whose scrap with Glen Johnson should have seen both men sent off.</p>
<p>Thankfully the home side couldn't convert, and within ten minutes of the restart Liverpool put the match to rest. Philippe Coutinho won possession at midfield, carried it forward, and played an impossibly perfect pass through two defenders to Daniel Sturridge, who initially stalled but had enough composure to slash a left-footed strike past Elliot. He'd get his second six minutes later, as <span>Steven Gerrard's</span> lofted ball found Henderson on the near side and the midfielder passed across to the unmarked Sturridge, who had all the time in the world to slot home for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool's</a> fifth.</p>
<p>Two more would follow, first for <span>Fabio Borini</span>(!) after a wonderful cut-back from <span>Stewart Downing</span>, and then from Henderson, whose free-kick curled untouched into the netting on the far side. All that was remarkable from Newcastle was the foul preceding Henderson's second, which should have been a straight red for <span>Mathieu Debuchy</span> but resulted in a second yellow anyhow, and the manner in which they completely and utterly gave up.</p>
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<p>We really couldn't have asked for much more after the week Liverpool had--the focus didn't really even snap into view until Daniel Agger put them in front in the third minute of the match, and from there it was finally easy once again to focus on the football. That they scored so freely was certainly aided by the disaster of a day that Newcastle had, but there was a lightness to the performance (especially after Sturridge's first goal) that was more than welcomed.</p>
<p>It'd be hard to overstate the impact of Philippe Coutinho, who readily exploited the space <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle's</a> shambolic defense afforded and rarely put a pass wrong. He wasn't quite perfect but only fell just short, and very nearly got a goal of his own just before coming off. His impact in the absence of Luis Suarez was immense, providing just as much spark as the Uruguayan and little of the controversy. He's increasingly making a mockery of the price that Liverpool paid for his services, shaking off the disappointment against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> to dominate Newcastle today.</p>
<p>The rest of the side weren't half-bad themselves, with each of Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson (two assists for the former, two goals and an assist for the latter) playing well from the wide areas at both ends and Daniel Sturridge getting two of his own as the main man in attack. Both of Steven Gerrard and Lucas were solid in their own right, showing a bit more energy and steel as a duo--save for ten or so minutes in the first half--before the captain came off for the first time in a Premier League match all season.</p>
<p><span>Glen Johnson's</span> continued struggles were the only pock mark on an otherwise competent display defensively, with all doing what was required and Daniel Agger chipping in at the other end with his third goal of the campaign. One of the better days throughout the squad from front to back, with Fabio Borini breaking his Premier League duck as a substitute in the process, and one of the better results of an up-and-down season.</p>
<p>What fun that turned out to be.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/4/27/4274916/newcastle-0-liverpool-6-suarez-ban-sturridge-henderson-goals-borini-return-Ed-2013-04-27T13:00:04+01:002013-04-27T13:00:04+01:00Matchday: Newcastle v. Liverpool
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<figcaption>Matthew Lewis</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool visit St. James' Park late Saturday afternoon to face sixteenth-place Newcastle United.</p> <p><b>K</b><b>ickoff:</b> 5:30PM GMT/12:30PM EST</p>
<p><b>Ways to Watch:</b> ESPN in the UK and Fox Soccer Channel in the US</p>
<p><b>Preview: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2013/4/26/4268262/preview-newcastle-v-liverpool-team-news-lineups">Newcastle v. Liverpool</a><a href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2012/11/10/3627064/match-preview-chelsea-v-liverpool-11-11-12-premier-league-team-news" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><b>Comment:</b> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=373" target="_blank">Join the conversation on the Liverpool Offside</a></p>
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<p><b>Newcastle:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Elliot<br>Debuchy Taylor Yanga-Mbiwa Haidara<br>Perch Tiote Cabaye<br>Sissoko Cisse Jonas</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Harper, Williamson, Gosling, Anita, Ben Arfa, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Liverpool:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Reina<br>Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique<br>Gerrard Lucas<br>Downing Henderson Coutinho<br>Sturridge</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Jones, Coates, Skrtel, Wisdom, Suso, Shelvey, Borini</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/4/27/4273250/matchday-newcastle-v-liverpool-team-news-lineups-Ed-2013-04-27T02:00:07+01:002013-04-27T02:00:07+01:00Open Thread: Pre-Newcastle Overnight
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<figcaption>Jan Kruger</figcaption>
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<p>One underappreciated question to pass the time as we wait for kickoff from Anfield.</p> <p>With Brendan Rodgers settling somewhat comfortably into a regular eleven, there hasn't been as much deviation from the settled norm as we'd seen earlier in the year. As we discussed prior to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> match, the biggest question seemed to be which of <span>Stewart Downing</span>, <span>Daniel Sturridge</span>, or <span>Jordan Henderson</span> got starts, and outside of that there were few unexpected names making an appearance. And with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> limited to only one substitute per match, we inevitably saw whichever player of the aforementioned three missed out.</p>
<p>But with <span>Luis Suarez</span> out for the rest of the season, those three seem to all fit, and there's even a chance--albeit a small one--that someone less utilized in recent weeks could have a bigger role to play. Combined with very little purpose left in the run-in, there's probably about as good a chance as any that some of the familiar faces from the fall get a handful of minutes here and there. </p>
<p><b>So, of those who haven't made many (or any) starts of late, who do you want to see included and why?</b></p>
<p>Mine is Suso, mostly because of his unwavering commitment to the aggressive pompadour, but also because we never really saw him get meaningful minutes in an advanced central role. The cameos we did get were competent to excellent, as his vision and distribution gave Liverpool that slice of class in unlocking an opposition defense that has often seemed lacking. He still needs to find a way to cope with the physicality of first-team football and was prone to disappearing, but the promise and, as Brendan Rodgers put it earlier in the season, arrogance on the ball are there in spades.</p>
<p>It's doubtful that he makes a start tomorrow (and probably less so in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/kentucky-derby">the derby</a>), but I'm hopeful that he gets increased time on the pitch before the season's out. He still might be in line for a loan ahead of next season if playing time isn't on the immediate horizon at Liverpool, which I'd be more than okay with, but for now it'd just be nice to relish the very promising glimpses he can so capably provide. </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/4/27/4272114/liverpool-newcastle-overnight-open-thread-Ed-2013-04-26T17:00:06+01:002013-04-26T17:00:06+01:00Preview: Newcastle v. Liverpool
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<figcaption>Michael Regan</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool get back to the football on Saturday, traveling to Tyneside to face sixteenth-place Newcastle.</p> <p>So, an actual match, then. It feels like Liverpool have had far too many of these types of weeks over the past few seasons, with focus solely on off-pitch concerns and the only drama around the club reserved for self-inflicted wounds rather than matches that matter. That they've often involved <span>Luis Suarez</span> is unfortunate, but tomorrow--as was the case last season--they'll start a lengthy stretch without the striker.</p>
<p>Whether or not that stretch takes a much longer turn over the summer isn't worth the hand-wringing quite yet, although early returns indicate it's full steam ahead on transfer speculation. There'll be a time and place for that, but it's not nownownow just yet, so I feel like we're at least obligated to go through the motions of focusing on the more immediate future for Liverpool and every squad member not named Luis Suarez.</p>
<p>That future includes tomorrow's trip to <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Newcastle</a>, which proved last season to was among <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool's</a> most miserable away days. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110848/pepe-reina" class="sbn-auto-link">Pepe Reina</a> was sent off, <span>Andy Carroll</span> lost a wonderful goal-scoring chance and his cool, and the whole sordid affair <a href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2012/4/1/3108360/newcastle-2-liverpool-0-my-five-favorite-sea-creatures" target="_blank">sent us into a dark, dark place</a>. Results for <span>Alan Pardew's</span> side have been mixed of late--most notably a 0-3 hammering from <a href="https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sunderland</a> in the Tyne-Wear derby--but there's no doubt that there's enough talent in the Newcastle side to frustrate Liverpool in a similar fashion.</p>
<p>Pardew will have Cheick Tiote and <span>Papiss Cisse</span> available for selection, while <span>Fabricio Coloccini</span> and <span>Hatem Ben Arfa</span> are closer to returns but will likely miss out along with <span>Tim Krul</span>, who's out for the rest of the seaon with a dislocated shoulder. The core of the side's been mostly consistent, with Cisse leading from the front, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110244/moussa-sissoko" class="sbn-auto-link">Moussa Sissoko</a>, <span>Yoan Gouffran</span>, and <span>Yohan Cabaye</span> providing support from the midfield. Jonas and <span>James Perch</span> have vacillated between wide roles in the midfield and defense lately, while <span>Steven Taylor</span>, <span>Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa</span>, and <span>Mathieu Debuchy</span> have been constants at the back with Robert Elliot set to replace Krul for the run-in.</p>
<p>For Liverpool:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Reina<br>Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique<br>Gerrard Lucas<br>Downing Henderson Coutinho<br>Sturridge</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Liverpool's fitness concerns look to be clearing up just in time for the season to be over, with <span>Raheem Sterling</span> and <span>Fabio Borini</span> returning to training earlier in the week and <span>Martin Kelly</span> getting involved again over the past couple of days. Luis Suarez will serve the first of his ten-match ban as well.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">With Kelly looking close to a return, we might finally see a shake-up across the back, but tomorrow will see the same back line continue. <span>Jamie Carragher</span> was impressive against <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a>, and the unit as a whole were mostly solid, but once again set-piece defending proved to be the Achilles' heel. That's not only down to the back line and Pepe Reina, but they're far too vulnerable far too frequently.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Jordan Henderson</span> looks to be re-established in the starting eleven, joining <span>Steven Gerrard</span> and Lucas as the first-choice midfield. They're not exactly the three-man setup that most had envisioned when Brendan Rodgers arrived, but with Henderson included consistently again, they seem to be settled. With Suarez out for the rest of the season, there aren't many other apparent options, with <span>Jonjo Shelvey</span> seemingly the only player likely to appear.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The rest seems straightforward enough--<span>Daniel Sturridge</span> comes straight in for Suarez, with <span>Stewart Downing</span> and <span>Philippe Coutinho</span> providing the width. It's the same eleven that started against Chelsea save for Suarez, and if Sturridge can have the similar type of effect as he did after coming on for the second half on Sunday, the absence of the Uruguayan might not be too damaging.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Kickoff is a bit later, with the start time set for 5:30PM GMT/12:30PM EST. ESPN will air the match live in the UK, with Fox Soccer Channel showing it in the US. Team sheets will be released an hour before kickoff, and any other news--hopefully all of it related to the match and not the ongoing circus--will be posted leading up to the matchday thread. Hope you'll be around for it, and that we round tomorrow off talking only about the result.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/4/26/4268262/preview-newcastle-v-liverpool-team-news-lineups-Ed-