Another tough night at Anfield for Newcastle United as a lack of quality in the final third and soft goals conceded at the other end allowed Liverpool to ease to a 2-0 win.
Here’s our marks out of 10 and comments on each player involved in last night’s game:
STARTING XI
Pope – 4 – Didn’t cover himself in glory once again. Slightly unsighted for the first goal but it was a weak shot that he was visibly frustrated not to stop. Looked jittery on the ball and flapped at a late cross that almost allowed Liverpool a third.
Livramento – 5.5 – Kept Diaz fairly quiet but sometimes ran into trouble when he tried to drive us forward. Never really got anything going with Murphy down our right.
Schar – 4.5 – Didn’t do nearly enough to stop Diaz’s ball across the box for Szoboszlai’s opener. Tried to be aggressive but often arrived late to the tackle.
Burn – 5.5 – Steady but looked slow and vulnerable when Liverpool looked to break. Couldn’t get a block in to stop their opener, but it was his punt up the pitch that put Wilson through on goal in the first half.
Hall – 8* – Up against arguably the world’s most in-form attacker in Mo Salah and gave as good as he got, which is saying something considering he was criticised for his poor defending last season. Made several sharp tackles, read danger quickly and kept tight to the Egyptian. Not much joy going forward, but that’s an encouraging display from the 20-year-old.
Bruno – 4.5 – Needs to offer more, both on and off the ball. He can do it all at his best, but the Brazilian looked leggy and didn’t impact the game anything like how we know he can. Lost Mac Allister for their second goal and was quiet throughout. Needs to be much better for the final after a few tepid displays.
Tonali – 4.5 – His touch was off early on, he didn’t get close enough to Szoboszlai for their first goal and lost the ball in the build up to their second. His athleticism and touch stood out at times, but he was well below his best in this one.
Willock – 5 – Pulled out to the left for much of the game but never really got at Alexander-Arnold. Lacked quality or belief when he got himself into good positions. Still a little rusty after a stop-start season and didn’t build on that lively first half display against Forest.
Murphy – 4 – His attempts to get good balls into the box summed up our lack of quality in the final third. So many either hit the first man or were overhit. On the fringe of the game for much of it, lacked belief to go past his man and booked late on for a blatant pull back on Salah.
Wilson – 4 – Howe praised him after the match but I thought he looked rusty and as if age is catching up with him. Caught in offside positions often early on, missed a golden chance to make it 1-1, struggled to hold up the ball and didn’t look particularly mobile, with us really missing Isak’s pace, dribbling and cutting edge.
Gordon – 5 – Another who never really stamped his authority on the game. Has the pace and trickery to beat Alexander-Arnold (who was given the run around at Man City on Sunday), but was so often drifting inside and rarely in positions to do damage.
SUBS
Miley – 7 – A little like his cameo at Man City in our last away game, he showed composure on the ball and athleticism off it. Rarely gave it away and made a few important tackles to stop Liverpool breaking.
Osula – 5 – Very little service so hard to be too critical, but he didn’t get any joy out of Van Dijk. Eager to impress and raw.
Barnes – 4 – Barely remember him touching the ball, much like his cameo on Sunday. Needs to offer more.
Trippier – 6 – Made one key clearance after Pope’s save parried the ball out. Replaced Livramento for the final 20 minutes.
Longstaff – N/A – On for the final few minutes, replacing Bruno.
An unusually poor game from Tonali unlike Bruno who has been poor for weeks now, would swap Bruno for Miley, Willock is Almiron mark 2, runs with very little on the end of it.
Pope (Mr fumble) lacks confidence and that does nothing to inspire the defenders in front of him, should be dropped permanently as Dubravka hasn’t been and can’t be any worse.
Schar Sloppy again and Livramento is starting to think he is a better footballer than he is and needs to remember his defensive duties.
Hall the only player who looks up to speed.
Murphy, Barnes and offside Wilson have to be moved on.
Liverpool in fairness only had to start the engine to beat us, and the quality they have to call on in reserve means we are light years away.
Joseph(Quote)
The good thing from last night was it certainly highlighted what we need. Goalie, 2 RCH because Schar looks like age is catching up, RW Murphy not at that level, and that’s not a criticism, just harsh reality, Striker, possibly look at getting better quality depth in the midfield as well, to add to Tonali, Bruno and Miley. Big summer if we want to reach Liverpool standard’s, like I said it’s not a criticism or making players scapegoat’s it’s just harsh reality.
Darren Bebb(Quote)
I didn’t feel we were that bad, but clearly we need more attacking options and talent. Honestly, in the summer I would let go Wilson, Trippier and…Bruno. The latter I’ve often said. Love Bruno, but if we have to let one of the “big 3” go, I feel Miley could fill that gap.
Then get in a striker to back up or partner Isak, a quality right winger and a right sided defender. All young-ish. I like Lascelles though, so still keep him. Liverpool, Arsenal etc back off over Isak (or Gordon). Don’t you realise we aim to be BETTER than you within a few years?!!!
Btw, now we’re building an exciting batch of kids with real potential why do our Under 21s keep losing?
Adam(Quote)