A case of what could’ve been for Newcastle United, who threw away a big chance to secure their first win at Anfield since 1994.
We started brilliantly and were the much better side for the majority of the first half, but Anthony Gordon’s opener was soon cancelled out as a two-minute Hugo Ekitike brace sent Liverpool into the lead at half-time.
A low strike from Barnes almost drew us level in the second half, although that nearly moment was another we’d live to regret as Florian Wirtz made it 3-1 moments later, before Ibrahima Konaté made it four in stoppage time after some awful handling from Nick Pope.
Two mad minutes swung the game just when we looked in control, but we didn’t do enough in the second half, struggling in both boxes and running out of steam after a big effort in Paris just a few days ago.
The result makes it back to back defeats in the Premier League and 16 points dropped from winning positions this season, leaving us 10th in the table, six behind Liverpool and seven behind Chelsea after the Blues came back from 2-0 down to beat West Ham 3-2 in the 5.30pm kick-off.
Howe made three changes and switched back to a 4-3-3. Out came Botman, Miley and Woltemade, and in came Trippier, Barnes and Gordon, with the latter playing in a false nine role.
Bruno wasn’t fit enough to return, meaning Tonali, Ramsey and Willock were tasked to go again in midfield, with Elanga also keeping his place on the right wing after a lively display in midweek.
Newcastle XI: Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall – Tonali, Willock, Ramsey – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes
Subs: Ramsdale, Botman, Wissa, Osula, J.Murphy, Woltemade, A.Murphy, Shahar, Miley
Liverpool XI: Alisson – Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez – Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz – Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
It was a scrappy yet high-pace start, featuring an early Gordon yellow, a Trippier giveaway that almost got Salah in behind and plenty of Newcastle pressing, giving the hosts little time to settle on the ball.
Gordon was finding pockets of space, we’d forced SEVEN corners in the first 25 minutes and came within inches of making it 1-0 midway through the first half, as Barnes struck a well hit free kick off the post before Hall whipped in a wicked cross that flew inches past Thiaw and then Burn!
We had control of the game and were comfortably the better side, looking confident on the ball and coming out on top in so many of our duels, causing audible groans from the home crowd at Anfield. But we had to make our strong start count – and we soon did!
After Ekitike went close at the other end as Pope did well to stand up to the former Toon target, a quick break saw Barnes move it wide to Gordon, who did the rest emphatically, driving a low shot into the far corner at the Kop. 1-0 Newcastle, a lead we thoroughly deserved and the scouser’s first league goal from open play in just over 12 months.
Sadly, that lead didn’t last long, as Liverpool hit back not just once but twice before the break, scoring twice in two minutes. Wirtz danced past black and white shirts in the box and his low ball was fired under Pope by Ekitike, who would then score again moments later. We were caught too high up the pitch and Ekitike was devastating, bursting past Thiaw, who didn’t do nearly enough to stop the shot, before finishing nonchalantly into the far corner. 2-1 Liverpool.
Such a brutal end to what had been a hugely encouraging half before a mad two minutes, especially when the difference maker was a man Eddie Howe has tried to sign not once but twice!
A huge 45 minutes awaited, and we came out from the break like a side who still believed, going close through Barnes for the second time as his low shot was stopped superbly by Alisson. However, it was very nearly 3-1 moments earlier as Ekitike burst through and, for once, got his finish all wrong.
After a competitive start to the second half, we started to fade around the hour mark and we were quickly punished. Another poor goal to concede, this time it was poor marking in the box, as Wirtz found too much space from Salah’s cut-back, took a touch and struck in off the post. 3-1 and it felt like game over.
We’d become sloppy, our attacks suddenly lacked zip and Howe reacted with three changes with 72 minutes on the clock, seeing Wissa, Woltemade and Murphy replace Barnes, Elanga and Willock.
The next change saw Osula appear for the first time in months following a foot issue, as the big Dane replaced an out of sorts Trippier with just over five minutes to go. At this point, we had Wissa (ST), Woltemade (CF), Osula (RW) and Gordon (LW) all on the pitch, but we looked like a beaten side at this stage, struggling to get on the ball or break down a Liverpool side who’d taken full control.
Then, in stoppage time, Liverpool made it four with a little help from Pope, who dropped a simple corner he had to catch, allowing Konate to score. A sad end to a match that started so well. Where Liverpool responded quickly to going a goal behind, we seemed to run out of ideas and energy.
In many ways, it’s a game that sums up so much of our season. Moments of promise, but not a 90-minute display, with misses at one end while on top and lapses in concentration at the other ultimately costing us.
Next up, a Carabao Cup second leg trip to Man City on Wednesday before a Premier League meeting with Brentford at St James’ Park next Saturday.
Keep the faith. Howay the lads!
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