Another defeat for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United, who showed spirit to fight back but were ultimately outplayed in a game where Liverpool could’ve quite easily scored six or seven.
It’s our seventh defeat in our last eight and takes us to 15 goals conceded in our last six league games. Martin Dubravka played a blinder and made 10 saves (including one to deny Salah from the spot) to keep the score semi-respectable, as Liverpool had 34 shots – more than any Premier League side has mustered this season – and recorded the highest-ever xG (7.20) since records began.
It was never going to be easy and we didn’t give up – I couldn’t question our commitment – but it was quite alarming how regularly they cut through our midfield or got behind our defence. We looked a yard off the pace, underconfident on the ball and our approach against a Liverpool side notorious for their pressing and quality on the counter felt naive. They are a top side, we just gave them far too much space and could’ve lost by cricket score..
That being said, the nature of their fourth is an absolute disgrace and needs investigating. Replays showed Jota dived well after any challenge from Dubravka, yet it was quite clear that there was no contact, making the decision to award the penalty all the more mystifying.
We could’ve lost 8-2 tonight, but to see cheating rewarded and the matched settled on that infuriating, especially when Endo’s trip on Longstaff wasn’t even given a second thought by VAR just seconds before Jones made it 2-1 Liverpool.
Howe made two changes from the 3-1 defeat to Forest. Joelinton replaced Miguel Almiron in attack and Tino Livramento came back into the side, with Kieran Trippier missing from the squad alongside Callum Wilson and Jamaal Lascelles back on the bench.
It was all Liverpool in the opening minutes. They were clearly at it, but we couldn’t get out, creating so many of our own problems thanks to poor giveaways and a wide-open midfield that was giving the Reds far too much space to feed their front men.
After Alexander-Arnold saw a shot deflect just wide and Miley had a rare opening blocked well, Dubravka pulled off the first of many saves by reacting quickly to Nunez’s near-post flick. The next was from the penalty spot, as the Slovakian stood tall to beat away Mo Salah’s poor penalty after Diaz went down (or should I say ‘dived’) to make the most of Botman’s lunging tackle.
A big relief and wake-up call, but we had to seriously improve if we wanted to stay level. They were bypassing our midfield too easily and more openings came their way. Thankfully, Nunez couldn’t pounce on Botman’s air-kick and Dubravka made another key save.
We did have a decent period around the half-hour mark, where it was our turn to break clear and run at their defence, yet our final ball was often lacking, with the isolated Isak and an out of sorts Gordon struggling to pick the right pass or get a shot of any conviction off.
Burn did have a goal disallowed after heading home at the back post, but it was rightfully chalked off as Isak strayed just beyond Konate in the build-up to Miley’s lovely cross. A flurry of yellow cards followed – one being Bruno’s eighth of the season – and we somehow got into the break at 0-0.
It was another frantic start to the half, although this time it kicked off with the goal that had been coming. Burn was dragged across the pitch, Liverpool exploited the space and Salah tapped into an empty net from Nunez’s low pass across the box.
1-0 Liverpool and it was almost 2-0 minutes later after Salah and Nunez forced Dubravka into his sixth and seventh saves, but we responded out of nowhere. Almiron replaced Miley, seeing Gordon move back to the left, and our number 10 made an immediate impact after switching wings, as Isak held his nerve superbly after pouncing on his ball in behind. 1-1!
I had no idea how we were level heading into the final 30 minutes and we had Dubravka to thank AGAIN as he made another huge save, this time to deny Gakpo. But Liverpool’s dominance and our dire defending proved costly, as Jota squared for Jones to make it 2-1 before Salah set up Gakpo to make it three. Moments of quality for both goals, yes, but so much statuesque defending and a midfield that were caught in no man’s land.
Then, just as we responded to Liverpool’s opener, a goal out of nowhere came our way, as a corner was nodded in by Botman to make it 3-2. Again, it felt surreal we were still in the game we deserved nothing from, yet our chance to salvage a late draw was spoilt by an utterly disgraceful piece of refereeing. Jota went down under a ‘challenge’ from Dubravka, yet replays showed no contact and a blatant dive. The decision after a VAR review? A penalty. What a farce. Needless to say, Salah stepped up and buried it this time round and that was that. 4-2 Liverpool.
Yes, the Reds deserved all three points and played us off the park – they had enough chances to win three games, never mind three points – but that late decision was a total shambles.
Next up, just an away trip to Sunderland on Saturday in the FA Cup. Based on our recent results and the tough fixtures to come, it feels like a must-win to save our spiralling season.
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Livramento, Schar, Botman, Burn (c) – Miley, Bruno, Longstaff – Gordon, Isak, Joelinton.
SUBS: Karius, Gillespie, Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Krafth, Hall, Almiron, A.Murphy.
Excuse are done with. This is atrocious – and it has to be called out as such. This ‘we achieved too much too soon’ nonsense has to stop. This nonsense of ‘the demands of CL football’ has to stop – it’s been 6 more games so far this season to last 🤷🏼♂️.
I desperately want Howe to turn this round. Forget the games before Luton – I can accept they swung on moments of misfortune.
But Luton, Forest & Liverpool off the back of those games have been atrocious – simple as that.
I love Howe for what he has brought to our club – but was he riding the crest of a wave?!. I knew he lacked CL experience, I knew he lacked experience at this end of the table but I was happy to go with that being down to circumstance.
But I can’t say Howe has impressed me much when things haven’t been going his way – ie greater demands due to CL (though that has been 6 games really 🤷🏼♂️) or injuries (which every club has had).
His sticking with players like Miggy or Burn leaves me seriously in doubt.
I understand people saying he’s earned a bit of loyalty & outside of the immediacy of us playing I’d agree – but watching us & in the immediate aftermath, I hate to say I’m not so sure.
We have to decide what we want. We either want to be successful – in which case we may have to accept that Howe is out his depth. Or we want to be loyal to players & Howe – in which case we have to accept that what we have is really a top 10 side and manager at best & last season was actually as much down to better teams under performing than us being that good 🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t really know what to say after that. We deserved to lose, we were very poor, but nowhere near as poor as the VAR and officiating. 2 dives, clear dives, the second so blatant that said diver should’ve been carded, and 2 penalties given. Unbelievable
Gilly Toon(Quote)
The game is dead, VAR is an absolute joke. Yes we deserve to lose but VAR made sure we had no chance of getting a late equalizer .
Fans of all teams slamming Jota, the ref and VAR, rightly so.
Just hope we can beat the scum, not sure what’s going on with us right now. Knew this would be a poor season having to fight on 4 fronts with little down time to train but hells bells it’s worse than I thought.
Horrific injury list, Tonalli, VAR and Pope out and an apparent incompetent physio dept ( see Botman ) all coming together to form a massive cluster *&^% .
Not gonna drag Howe tbh, he came into a sh*t show, we were 19th fgs and in utter pieces, what he achieved with that team last season was truly epic. It was too soon if we are honest and has raised unrealistic expectations imo. Our squad is too thin on talent in numbers and it ultimately shows when competing on multiple fronts. Eddie may be guilty of playing players he is loyal to perhaps but looking at our bench he hasn’t much choice really .
Then there are the players out of form or plain shattered and you always feel more tired when you are losing a run of games , it zaps confidence and some players will hide.
We couldn’t hold onto the ball and barely strung more than two passes together, that’s on the players not Eddie.
kimtoon(Quote)
With regards the VAR decisions I agree completely about the Jota penalty and I agree with Howe.
IF Jotas is given as a penalty, we there was definitely far more contact on Longstaff just seconds before for us to have been awarded one!!.
The problem with Jotas is there was contact – very slight but enough (under the current rules for VAR intervention) for VAR not to overturn it …. HOWEVER!! they could definitely have suggested the ref review it on the monitor because while there was contact he planted that foot before taking his dive.
I honestly thought he’d booked Jota for diving initially. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing – and I was still raging the Longstaff one wasn’t given. That challenge anywhere else on the pitch & freekick is given 🤷🏼♂️.
But as frustrating as all that was, it shouldn’t detract from a very poor NUFC performance. It’s annoying but it’s not why we lost the game.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I would bring in Dummet at left back. He has pace and is a good tackler. His distribution and throw ins are poor but BDB is also poor with throw ins.
Groucho(Quote)
Groucho – I’d have left Tino LB and played Krafth RB mate.
I noticed Howe switched to 3 CBs with Tino & Hall wingbacks with 15-20mins to go last night – why not start with that?!.
They might have sat in a coaches meeting & identified Salah v Burns as a massive concern – especially after Elanga turned him inside out.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The problem I have with this ‘demanding schedule’ and lack of training ground time is other than Tino & Gordon – we have pretty much played the same group of players as last season – and Tino & Gordon have arguably been our 2 best players this season.
As for the rest of the group – Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Lascelles, Burn, Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton, Almiron, Wilson, Isak – even Gordon really – all of them were training last season so know what Howe expects & what their role is.
This isn’t like Chelsea with a new manager & a large number of new players having to bed in.
The ‘busy schedule’ has been a total of 6 more games than last season. I know there has been travelling, but that’s only 3 of those games – and to Italy, Germany & France so hardly demanding.
I think the biggest problem has been that teams have studied us & figured out how we play and have been better equipped to face it.
Other teams have had injuries & other teams are fighting on 4 fronts also.
I get there will be some fatigue in the group – but largely it’s the same group Howe worked with last season & we’ve fallen from having some of the best stats in the league to some of the worst – that is very worrying.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m getting sick of hearing GNev talking about Dan Ashworth going to Man Utd was well.
He spoke with such certainty about how unsettling it will be for Howe and how it’s not helping & wont help through the January window – a good 5 mins chat on how unstablising it must be, only for them to say ‘of course we must say we no of no approach by Man Utd for Ashworth’ 🤯
Shut up about it then!! Neville is certain it will be an approach from Ratcliffe & his crew.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Poor performance and deservedly humped. Spine of team is too soft so everything else looks dysfunctional.
Nufc have been and are very clear about what they’re doing.
They’re transitioning to a plan to become an enduring top table club.
That doesnt happen form perennial relegation team in two years with the squad they have and the constraints they’re working within.
Nowts changed from the takeover narrative.
Honestly think a lot of commentary would sound far more rational if folks stepped back and remembered what’s going on at the club and not obsess about just 90 mins of playing time to the exception of everything else
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
GoWest – I know you aren’t directing that at me personally mate, but I want to make my position clear on this.
I’ve supported NUFC for over 35yrs starting before the KK glory days so have seen the worst & the best there is to see. Despite talk of the PL & CL from Staveley when the takeover first happened – I’m a realist.
Going into the AC Milan game I wasn’t expecting us to blow them away & progress to the next round of CL – a draw gets us Europa – from that group & your first season in Europe, that’s still excellent imo.
I said at the start of the season a decent Europe run & 8th or above & that’s a good 2nd season imo – I’m not expecting 5 trophies like City.
But in the last 6 games our form is the worst in the league.
We have gone from a top 5 form team to a bottom 5 form team – that’s not the transition we need.
But forget stats a minute coz they can be misleading. We have eyes too & what I’m watching is awful & you can see the players heads going in that Liverpool game.
I don’t expect top 4 mate, but we aren’t even getting top 10 at this moment – 3 points out of the last 6 games.
I’m not calling for Howe to be sacked – not at all. But fans have a right to but worried by this.
Sharpy17(Quote)
https://twitter.com/MrRoddyGraham/status/1742469444184478122
Brilliantly put
kimtoon(Quote)
agree 100% mate
icedog(Quote)
Excellent Kim!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Hey sharpy I’m genuinely surprised if you think the transition I’m referring to is the last five games.I’m looking at 3-5 years transition coz that’s what the club are talking about and that also goes well beyond the 1st team.
So a dip in form seeing nufc slip to 9th within that transition is not that unexpected and does not perturb me, coz the reality is this is (mostly ) down to injuries and mental / physical fatigue. Tgat is causing disruption to rhythm and confidence leading to errors and dysfunctional performances.
Coupled with the restrictions of ffp limiting options to improve the squad, this is where nufc are right now and not excuses.
Do some of Howe’s decisions perplex me ? Sure they do but I’ll reserve the right not to be worried yet as the overwhelming evidence is that the club are progressing by and large
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
GoWest – I typed a mammoth reply last night but it hasn’t posted 🤦🏼♂️.
Shorter version is I fully understand this transition is over the next 3-5yrs but we were starting probably 10-15years behind most of the clubs we are wanting to party with. On top of that you also have clubs like Man Utd & Chelsea wanting back in & clubs like Villa, Brighton & WHU looking to party too.
We talk about this transition as if getting there is in our own hands – to a degree maybe.
But all of the clubs I mention above are going for the big sponsorship deals, they are all chasing the same elite backroom staff, coaches & players.
When I say I’m worried, it’s not for relegation or I have an unrealistic expectation of CL football every season now.
I worry what a mediocre mid table season does to that building process. Do sponsors & players look at us as the ‘didn’t they do well’ team rather than genuine challenges for those top spots.
I get injuries & fatigue but doing the same thing every week & expecting different is madness. We aren’t just losing we are being well beat & that’s not good for morale.
6 games is a blip but if this runs into 10 games plus & still looks the same it’s a real concern imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I have already posted this but didn’t appear,what is wrong with our medical department Barnes has been out weeks and weeks now they are saying he could need a opp ffs there is also some other injury’s that are suss from our medical team imo it needs to be looked at something not right there
Icedog(Quote)
Ice, well our physio has left us now apparently. They messed up Botmans injury.
kimtoon(Quote)
Bit off topic. Been reading a bit of Eds blog. Absolute shambles to be fair. There is is poster causing a stir called Fat B*stard. It’s 100% my old mate Troy Stavers I reckon.
If you are out there Troy, hope you are well. 🤔
Aussie(Quote)
I always thought Troy and Eric were one and the same. The way they wrote was very similar.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Speaking of Eric, where did he disappear to? He hasn’t posted for awhile.
Aussie(Quote)