A devastating afternoon at St James’ Park, as Newcastle United conceded two late goals to lose against a 10-man Liverpool.
We took the lead in the first half through Anthony Gordon and gained a man advantage soon after, as Virgil Van Dijk’s foul on Alexander Isak saw the Reds go down to 10 men.
However, despite our dominance and control of possession, we lost our way and let Liverpool back into a game that could and should have been out of sight. Jurgen Klopp’s subs worked a treat and Eddie Howe’s backfired horribly.
Joelinton was struggling after going down off the ball, so that change may have been enforced, but it was baffling to see Gordon and Tonali – two of our top performers on the day – replaced by Harvey Barnes and Sean Longstaff. It felt like premeditated subs to bring on ‘fresh legs’ and contributed to our loss of momentum.
Even so, it shouldn’t have come to this. Almiron blazed over at the back post in the opening stages of the second half, Gordon fired a decent effort wide after running rings around Alexander-Arnold all game. Miggy hit the post at the end of a brilliant run, Botman glanced wide, Longstaff had a low effort hit straight at Alisson and Wilson also fired a late effort way over.
Whether it was chances missed, poor subs our sloppiness creeping in just when we needed to keep our heads and see the game out, our game management wasn’t good enough. After a rare lapse from Botman, Darwin Nunez fired in from the angle 10 minutes from time, then the Uruguayan made sure of the unthinkable in stoppage time. Bruno lost the ball in a bad area, Salah set up the South American and he slid past Pope once again.
50,000 Mags inside St James’ Park sunk into their seats and tried to wrap their heads around what we’d just witnessed. To make matters even worse, Sven Botman went down awkwardly and was forced off with what looks like a potentially nasty injury, rubbing salt into our wounds at the end of a damaging day on Tyneside.
As for the positives, which feel incredibly tough to muster right now, I thought Gordon was brilliant all afternoon. He took his goal well, gave Alexander-Arnold the run around and shouldn’t have come off. Joelinton was everywhere, snapping into tackles and putting our fires, while Sandro Tonali showed his class both on and off the ball again. Botman was also a man mountain at the back before Nunez’s late brace, but that in itself is a worry if he’s now facing a spell on the sidelines.
I thought our 2-1 defeat at Anfield hurt, but this was worse again, as poor finishing, the wrong subs, some bad luck and two great finishes from Nunez have proved costly. Let’s hope Eddie Howe learns his lesson and the lads can bounce back. This one stings, but we’ll be back.
Next up, we face a trip to Brighton next Saturday night, where the players must pick themselves off the canvas and go again after back-to-back defeats.
STARTING 11: Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
I think this loss is down to the changes in midfield, we lost a game we were in control of.
Is Eddie Howe trying to keep too many players happy by making changes?
It was always a worry that Burn would be caught out for pace and it happened, can understand Joelinton substitution as he might not be fully match fit after the Man City game, but why Tonali ?
Bruno sloppy again unfortunately at a crucial time.
Gordon was a constant threat so can’t understand the reason for that change.
Yes we could and should have been more clinical but this result is down to Eddie and the substitutions.
Joseph(Quote)
Howe got it wrong today – I love him & think he’s a brilliant manager – but those subs were wrong today.
He reckons we were losing impetus in the game – I disagree.
Isak for Wilson – ok I think Wilson is a goal scorer & is more clinical.
But Gordon was destroying Liverpool & should have been left on imo – if Barnes for Miggy was his change I could maybe get it, but Gordon was killer today.
Tonali for Longstaff, nope Tonali was bossing it in there. For Bruno, again I’d understand.
I’m sure he made the Barnes/Wilson changes against City around the same time too.
Successful managers are ruthless. You can’t keep everyone happy over winning games.
We had the chances tonight & didn’t take them.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Really disappointing.
nufc never had control of or momentum in the game.
That’s primarily mindset imo. Nufc don’t believe they can beat these teams regularly and the same appears true of the crowd who were very quiet and edgy today
nufc failed to dominate 2nd half against 10 players which is awful at elite level and lfc played their approach very well to slow the game, not break shape and when they transitioned to attack looked dangerous.
Too often nufc just passed the ball across / back and lfc never had to chase it. Contrast that to the way mcfc used it last week. The only players they looked worried about were Gordon and tonali so I concur the changes were unhelpful. Lfc played very smart and loaded up on Gordon/ isak leaving almiron as the easy option for nufc to maintain possession but not hurt them. They also targeted burn by pressuring him most when nufc had the ball.
We all know (and so does klopp no doubt) that Howe will swap players around 65-75 mins. Klopp waited and countered very well with Darwin
I hope botman injury is not as serious as it looks.
Gordon the star for nufc again today
Oh and whatever the **** is going on with guimaraes, he or the club need to sort it out sharpish coz he’s been off for several months including last season.
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
As you say small club mentality is our continuing issue, we just don’t believe we can beat them.
Howe may of been trying to protect/save Gordon , Isak and Tonali for next match which he maybe see’s as more winnable, though I would dispute that and think he just needed to stick it out as it was kinda working. Bruno isn’t right is he, something is up be it injury or contract issues.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ouch! Still stinging this morning . . .
Don’t know who was responsible, Howe or players but the way we approached the second half was just asking for trouble. Keep ball at 1-0 for 45 mins? Stupid and not like us. Hope lessons are learned.
And don’t know what’s happened to Bruno. He was poor again yesterday, continually caught on the ball, really poor passes. I’d have taken him off first 4/10.
georgio(Quote)
Kim – you’re dead right. The most winnable game is where you’re 1-0 up against 10 men with about 20mins to play!!.
I felt for Howe last night. I was fuming after that game & didn’t want to speak I was that gutted – he had to do a load of press asking stupid questions.
The subs are the same players at around the same times in the match. They aren’t tactical – they are to give players on the bench guaranteed game time.
I know he’s still trying to fingers out his best midfield & forward line but if players are playing as well as Gordon was last night you leave him on.
Tonali I don’t think gives the ball away the way Bruno does for their second
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aye nufc look best on front foot creating a bit of chaos. Not sure the players are slick enough for 45 mins of game management Howe’s talked a lot about the long season and effect on players so I wonder if yesterdays approach had that in mind.
If so that backfired badly including injuries to two key players
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
I was gutted at that loss. I know it was Liverpool and we lost to them last year and all the other years too, but to be ahead 1-0 and them down to 10 I felt we just threw it away. After having calmed down a bit, we are in the same position as we were last year. We have just come up against those creams earlier in the season. We can still go on and have a great season. Howe is human. Like all of us. Playing a blame game is not for me. I think he made a mistake, but then who hasn’t? If Barnes passes to Wilson and Wilson buries it, we have a totally different narrative. Such is life. Shi..t happens.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Teams not creams 😳😳😳
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Anyone seen this? Lascelles and his brother attacked in city centre. 🤬 shocking!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12453687/Newcastle-captain-Jamaal-Lascelles-attacked-violent-city-centre-brawl-gang-threaten-shoot-brother.html
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Awful
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Sorry Gilly that was me, got your details and pressed submit without realising
kimtoon(Quote)
Hi folks,
Just to let you all know, we are reinstalling the site next week and hope that fixes the issues with comments, incorrect details etc.
Apologies for the delay in fixing – we’ve tried in past but haven’t been able to get to the bottom of it. I just oversee the content of blog and write articles, but I do pass on your feedback and hope the experts can fix it for good this time!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Thanks Olly! I’m sure nobody is blaming you personally! We know what you do and the work you put into it. I guess it’s as frustrating for you as it is for us! 👍
@kim, 😂😂. No problem.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
What are peoples thoughts on the Maguire links? I think I’d be ok with bringing him in on loan. He’s great for England. I think Man United may be the problem for him.
But for a loan, Manure may play games again like they did with Lingard. 🤷🏻♂️. Let’s see. I think we need another CB in though.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Manu have already said they won’t loan him, and I can’t see Howe wanting to buy him.
Any news on Sven?
georgio(Quote)
Gilly – Maguire isn’t half as bad as media & the pundits make out.
I feel sorry for some of the Man U players (well as sorry as I can bring myself to be) because I think it works against them having so many ex Man Utd players who are now pundits.
They slaughter the players and highlight every mistake they make – the likes of De Gea couldn’t come back from it. Maguire now carries their mark but they’ve done the likes of Shaw, Wan Bissaka and even Rashford – I heard Keane digging him out last week coz he dared say he didn’t like playing as the main CF.
I don’t think Maguire is that bad, but he now comes with so much baggage I think it would be a distraction and so for that reason I hope we steer clear.
Sharpy17(Quote)
There’s a fair list of players I’m glad we DIDN’T sign with Maguire and Mount near the top.
georgio(Quote)
It’ll be interesting to see what Howe does if Botman is no good for the weekend.
Does he play Lascelles who was rumoured to be leaving & has had a busy press week.
Does he move Burn into the centre – seems the most logical. But then does he play Target or young Hall? – if Hall is that the end for Target? – he left Villa coz he wanted regular footy so Will he look to force a move from us?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Could we loan Target to forest & loan in Tierney from Arsenal???
I’d love for the club to be exploring RWF loans as well if there’s any out there – Ferran Torres or someone like that maybe.
Miggy is fine against the lesser teams – can be very affective against some of them in fairness. But against the better teams they all know he has no right foot & they exploit that – either by getting into him quickly before he can set himself onto his left, or by waiting for Trippier to overlap & make the right footed cross – meaning they can counter down their left with Trippier out of position.
I had a conversation with my mate the other day – Tonali & Diaby were about the same price. Would Diaby have been the better signing based on what our side needs.
Difficult to say coz Tonali is obviously a top player too & will certainly strengthen our middle – but could we have got by with Joelinton, Bruno, Longstaff, Willock with Anderson & Miley behind them?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ouch, Citeh
PremAndUp(Quote)
Well that’s not the word I used Prem lol
StanHardy(Quote)
Sorry prem that was my reply not Stans, wrong details again, fed up with this now like
kimtoon(Quote)
Wow – well we wanted Champions League football and there aren’t many groups that scream CL football than that one.
I’m buzzing we’ve got some good teams but cup football hasn’t been kind to us in the last 24hrs 🤦🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well, I think that’s us out of the CL in the groups and probably out the Carabao too. FA cup it is then 😂😂😂. At least we should get to Milan though! Ever seen a Mackem in Milan? No? Me either 😂😂😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I say bring it in respect of the carabao and UCL draws.
Nufc are still in their building phase so I’m enjoying the 5yr ride and fully invested in the team and coaches.
Like all rides it has bumps at any moment in time (and Saturday was a right kick in the slats) but the overall trajectory is still improvement.
The three sides in the group are iconic for different reasons but man I’d go for dortmund as the pick simply because of both sets of fans.
Seeing wor flags go against the borusse (yellow wall ) will be spectacular
🖤🤍
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Yep, will be amazing to witness
And knew we’d get one of the big boys in the caraboa, oh well .
kimtoon(Quote)
I think if we focus on our home fixtures. SJP is going to be a horrible place for these teams to come – and we are an unknown to them this season.
Play those fixtures as one off games, play with confidence & go after them & I think we can we at least 2 of them – I honest do. If we can then get a point or 2 on our travels, who knows.
I’m in the camp of this is a dream group. We want to mix it with the big teams in Europe & these are 3 of the biggest 🤷🏼♂️.
If we are honest we are still far from winning anything yet, and that’s ok – we are still growing as a club. This is a taster of where we want to be, so why not sample the prime stuff – and if we put on a good show, it can only attract better sponsors & generate bigger revenue right?!.
I’d love to get 6 points from AC just so Tonali knows he’s at the right place 🤞🏼
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m amazed Liverpool have turned down £150m for Salah – he’s BEEN a world class player for them but his best days are behind him – they have some outstanding forwards already waiting to replace him & that money could get them 2 or 3 players in.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I was sort of hoping we would get in a surprise central defender before the window shut, but not to be. We seen to be focussing on youth, which I guess is what Dan Ashworth did at Brighton too. Let’s hope they come through as well as some of those Brighton players.
I see Jeff Hendrick has gone but no confirmation of Isaac Hayden. 🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Aye, you Can’t argue with ashworths record when you look at Brighton.
Complement that with the financial clout that nufc are developing, the smarts and professionalism of those running the club and team and not forgetting the sheer will that Howe and his coaches bring and that’s a heady mix that provides assurance to fans and offers a doozy of a future if the continue as they started.
It’s why, as painful as Saturday was in the moment, it was little more than a wrinkle in the road imo.
GoWest!Mag(Quote)