Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle: Early stunner cancelled out by basic errors, but there’s positives to take..

An early thunderbolt from Jetro Willems had us wondering if another away upset was on the cards, but a few avoidable errors and some slick Liverpool finishing gave the Reds yet another home win.

The first-half was a tale of two halves. Willems’ sensational strike left Anfield stunned just 7 minutes in, and we continued to frustrate them over the next 20 minutes, defending as a unit and protecting Martin Dubravka’s goal brilliantly. We not only posed a threat on the counter, seeing Atsu, Joelinton and Almiron link up well, but were keeping their key men as quiet as I’ve seen them all season.

Sadly, some poor defending by Emil Krafth – who overcommitted and lost out in a key 50/50 with Andy Robertson – left a gap in our previously organised back five, allowing Mane to get a rare sight of goal – and he finished emphatically.

From that point on we were camped in our own half and they had their tails up, although their killer second goal was completely self inflicted, with Atsu losing the ball in a bad area and Dubravka failing to gather a through ball, allowing Mane to tap into an empty net.

We had a go in the early stages of the second half, but Liverpool had control of the game at this point, with Roberto Firmino on and pulling the strings.

Krafth had a huge chance to make it 2-2 but blazed over, and it didn’t take long for Liverpool to punish us, with Firmino’s incredible flick into Mo Salah killing the game off at 3-1.

It’s always frustrating to lose a game when you take the lead, but there were a few positives to take from this one, with us looking well drilled for the most part, competing well against Champions League winners and carrying a threat in attack at times.

Atsu looked very sharp once again and would’ve bagged 2 assists if Krafth could finish, Joelinton held up the ball well once again and showed glimpses of class, Shelvey worked hard, Hayden was strong in the tackle, Willems showed his quality with a stunning strike and a good range of passing. The three centre-backs defended well in the main, making some key interceptions and blocks, although Emil Krafth had a bit of a stinker at both ends, struggling to cope with Robertson all afternoon and missing a big chance to make it 2-2 early in the second half.

Defeats like today won’t define our season, and there’s a few promising signs to take into next weekend’s crucial home game against Brighton.

HWTL!

(Fancy writing for us? Get in touch at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

93 thoughts on “Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle: Early stunner cancelled out by basic errors, but there’s positives to take..

  1. georgio: there have been a few: Demba Ba, Cabaye, Wijnaldum, Townsend. The jury is out on the current crop of Almiron, St Max and Joelinton.

    But I get the point that there hasn’t been a hell of a lot to cheer about. I am used to it.

    Guess who missed the whole “entertainers” era? They didn’t show hardly any games in the US at that time. Then they started to satellite cup finals just in time for me to see us get tonked my Man U and ****. Had to go to the pub to see it and it was a bit of an embarrassment.

    Luckily, Fox/Murdoch got the rights and started showing 1 match a week live when Sir Bobby was Manager. We were on quite a lot then. I remember seeing the Dyer/Bowyer incident but also that game at Elland Road where I think we beat them 4-3. I know Bowyer scored for them in like the 1st minute.

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  2. I watched the Spurs game yesterday and that Sir Harold of Kane is an excellent diver. The penalty was the correct call even though it was the merest flick that caused the calamitous topple over. But he was ready, poised to go down before that. He was leaning like the Tower of Pisa ready to buckle if a butterfly landed on him. Good penalty taker though. As good as Shearer and Lampard I would say.

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  3. There’s really only 2 questions about personnel for Brighton:

    1. Manquillo or Krafth? Manquillo didn’t do a lot wrong but I am not sure if we should be judging Krafth when he had Robertson and Mane to face.

    2. Shelvey or Longstaff? I think Bruce will lean towards Shelvey to build his confidence and also because Sean might not be fully fit. I get the feeling about 90% of fans would pick Longstaff if both were fit.

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  4. Eric, I still ask the same questions whoever we play this season. Where are the goals coming from? I assume Brighton will sit back and see if we can break them down. We don’t create a lot of chances so that makes it even harder for Joelinton given this is the first season in England and he’s young. It’s all on him it seems.

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  5. Stuart, mate. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Almiron will come good. His final pass and finishing were great in MLS where he was the standout player. I know there is a gulf in quality between the PL and MLS but it is more about skill than physicality and speed so I think he will adapt to the pace of the PL.

    Hopefully, against Brighton we can get some players in the box. Maybe even score from a corner or free kick? Get a penalty?

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  6. So eventually Beardsley has been banned from football for 8mths for racial and inappropriate language.

    I worshipped Beardsley as a player and met him a few times and he was always friendly and sparing with his time. But from what I’ve read, he’s bang to rights and is right to be punished.

    But I can’t help but think there is an imbalance of justice in this Country.
    I mean, the inappropriate words Beardsley used is no less offence than those Boris Johnson have used in the past – comments he made in his own newspaper articles – and yet he gets to run the Country ??‍♂️

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  7. Sharpy17:
    So eventually Beardsley has been banned from football for 8mths for racial and inappropriate language.

    I worshipped Beardsley as a player and met him a few times and he was always friendly and sparing with his time.But from what I’ve read, he’s bang to rights and is right to be punished.

    But I can’t help but think there is an imbalance of justice in this Country.
    I mean, the inappropriate words Beardsley used is no less offence than those Boris Johnson have used in the past – comments he made in his own newspaper articles – and yet he gets to run the Country

    Yep, strange times indeed.

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  8. I have to keep writing my details in comments box, even after ticking the save my name box. Anyone else got this problem ?

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  9. Kim – I keep getting kicked out. The page jumps up and down and then comes up with an error page and scraps my post. We frustrating and why I don’t post as often.

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  10. Was listening to a podcast and the host asked a journalist if he had anything to say about the NUFC/Brighton game and his answer was “no”, so they just moved on. How did this end up as the featured game on Saturday? If I wasn’t an NUFC fan I doubt if I would watch it.

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  11. Before Olly’s preview I am trying to think if I can remember any of the Brighton team. Pascal Gross. Who is that big lad who is about 47 and knocked in most of their goals last year?

    I think that about sums it up. I NEVER watch them. Maybe 10 minutes if they are playing Liverpool or Man U, but other than that I have no interest in Brighton. And I don’t like seagulls either. Like giant, dirty, nasty flying rats.

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  12. I suppose Magpies aren’t much better but they only steal shiny objects and don’t kill poor innocent penguin chicks and steal fish from hard working puffins.

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  13. I watched the Man U game against Astana who seemed like they had Borat playing up front. Then I read the report in the (Manchester) Guardian which gave them a completely free ride for luckily beating the worst team in the competition. There were 167 comments and their fans let them off so easily it was the opposite to our fans. However, I think they went way too easy and there has to be something in the middle. They were acting like it was their youth team when there were veterans in there and these are the youth players that are supposedly the next class of 92. Maybe they are, but not judging by this. OGS is also getting a free ride from their fans if you judge it by the Guardian comments section.

    This is not Fergie’s Man U and we have a chance against them in our game. The last 2 games of theirs I watched they played shyte. And as I have said before it looks like Wolves are coming down to earth so that isn’t a lost cause for us either.

    One thing Pardew might have got right is that it is very difficult to play these Thursday night games if you have a thin squad. And believe me, despite their spending Man U have a thin squad if tonight was anything to go by.

    I don’t really know why I care. I think I just want them to fail because of the arrogance of their fans over the Fergie years. And doing a bit of scouting for our game.

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  14. kimtoon:
    I have to keep writing my details in comments box, even after ticking the save my name box. Anyone else got this problem ?

    didnt Shamrock fix this once,said it was a easy fix??

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  15. icedog: didnt Shamrock fix thisonce,said it was a easy fix??

    Think so Ice, still happening and lads ill too so not really bothered to post at mo anyhow.

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