Match report
That’s it from me, but we will have a box-fresh match report up online very soon. Liverpool were below their scintillating best but a goal in each half proved too much for Newcastle. They are 16th, two points outside the relegation zone, and host Southampton next week. They weren’t blown away here, but will that matter by the end of May? Thanks for reading along with me. Cheerio!
Full time: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United
After that late flutter of fury, it’s all over. Liverpool are back up to second after getting the job done.
What was most worrying about that was referee Graham Scott clearly had no idea, deferring anxiously to his assistant. The foul was outside the area, but Lascelles should have been sent off – that decision could come in very handy for Newcastle in the coming weeks.
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93 mins: Dummett’s pass is cut out and Liverpool launch a long ball, which finds Salah in space. Dubravka doesn’t come off his line this time, leaving it to Lascelles, who brings Salah down. No foul is given, and Klopp is incensed.
91 mins: Dubravka, who apparently fancies himself as a winger, dashes off his line to nick the ball away from Salah.
90 mins: Three added minutes. Lovren nods a through ball away under half-hearted pressure from Joselu.
89 mins: Another penalty shout from Liverpool, as Salah goes over under pressure from Lascelles. Replays suggest the Egyptian slipped, but that doesn’t stop Klopp having words with the fourth official.
88 mins: Lallana is limping slightly, which is a worry with a chance for him to get a start against Porto. Klopp is shutting up shop, bringing on Joël Matip for Firmino.
86 mins: Even with more bodies forward, Newcastle have continued to entirely disregard the Liverpool area. Free kicks have been launched towards the 18-yard line, and most shots have been from 20 yards plus. It’s an interesting tactic, but not one that’s worked today.
85 mins: Newcastle push forward, allowing Salah the space to race onto a through ball and bring it down expertly on the edge of the box. He tries to slip a pass to Firmino, but it’s underhit.
84 mins: The appeal may have been against Henderson, whose arm got in the way of the ricochet from Milner. Again, not a lot he could have done about it.
82 mins: A free-kick from deep is hauled to the edge of the Liverpool area, where Joselu’s shot cannons off James Milner. Appeals for handball, but Milner was about six inches away from the striker.
81 mins: Henderson’s daisy-cutter is deflected behind. Liverpool corner, headed clear at the near post.
“Joselu for... Gayle is depressing indeed. But what is Benítez supposed to do? He has had no other options all season, has he?” says Shaun Wilkinson. “On an unrelated topic, well done to Aleksandar Mitrovic for his third goal in three games today.”
78 mins: Oxlade-Chamberlain, who set up the first goal in a combative midfield performance, is replaced by James Milner.
77 mins: It’s felt like a training exercise for long spells but Liverpool are still just the two goals ahead – and as I type, Hayden heads a decent opportunity for Newcastle wide.
76 mins: Lallana gets in behind from Robertson’s ball over the top, and cuts the ball back across goal. There’s nobody there to turn it in, but Lallana is flagged offside – incorrectly, as it turns out.
74 mins: Mané comes off, replaced by Adam Lallana.
72 mins: Murphy has options either side of him 25 yards out, but tries an ambitious shot that’s blocked. Isaac Hayden is coming on, replacing Merino.
70 mins: Newcastle are trying to find a way back into the game, but are struggling to do anything at all in the Liverpool half. Kenedy’s cross finds Yedlin, whose header back across goal is cut out by Emre Can.
69 mins: Liverpool have now scored 200 Premier League goals under Jürgen Klopp. Make of that what you will.
67 mins: Another Liverpool corner is hacked clear by Newcastle, for whom the first half-hour must seem a very long time ago. Yedlin is then penalised upfield for a clumsy foul on Robertson.
@niallmcveigh do you know why Mane is copying Firmino's goal celebrations? Is this a new trend among the yoof I've missed?
— Alex Davies (@SheikhLeJaguar) March 3, 2018
He’s got previous for this...
Sadio Mane needs some help copying these celebrations 😂 #LFC pic.twitter.com/GUzOHEmgdk
— Football FanCast (@FootballFanCast) February 27, 2018
65 mins: Change for Newcastle: Joselu comes on for... Dwight Gayle. That’ll do it.
64 mins: Diamé barrels forward and looks to have been tripped by Alexander-Arnold, but nothing’s given.
62 mins: Salah almost pinches the ball off Lascelles deep in Newcastle territory, but the defender gets away with it.
60 mins: Liverpool are stroking the ball around, and feeling very comfortable. Will Rafa make a change soon?
“Ritchie and Pérez to come on and turn things around,” says E. Wilson, possibly before the second goal went in.
From the centre circle, Liverpool suddenly launched a slick passing move, the Newcastle back line caught on their heels. Roberto Firmino darted to the left, drew defenders out of position, and picked out Sadio Mané in the box with an eye-of-the-needle pass. He took a touch and blasted into the far corner.
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GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle (Mané 55')
Liverpool click from second gear into third, and a handful of perfect passes later, the game’s as good as over.
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53 mins: Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to pick out Firmino in the box, but he can’t get the ball under control.
51 mins: Big shout for handball as Mané’s cross breaks into the path of Salah. His shot hits Lascelles on the elbow and ricochets to safety. Graham Scott waves it away. It wasn’t deliberate, but Lascelles would do well to keep his arms down in future.
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“Nobody has really been tipping Newcastle as relegation candidates but I’ve had them pegged for 18th for a while,” says Kevin Wilson.
“The other teams down there look to have something more about them. Maybe Rafa is banking on Southampton to remain as turgid as they’ve been all year.”
Those two play each other next week, in a six-pointer that will be excruciatingly low on attacking quality.
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47 mins: Newcastle do push men forward early in the second half but Liverpool break quickly – but Paul Dummett stands Mo Salah up inside the area, and Newcastle clear the danger.
We go again
The second half kicks off.
@niallmcveigh so, should I go find a suitable stick?
— El Nero (@Cuiraecen) March 3, 2018
It has, admittedly, not been great, but I’m sure that goal will open things right up. Newcastle definitely won’t keep it to 1-0, and die wondering.
Half time: Liverpool 1-0 Newcastle
Liverpool have been far from their free-flowing best, and were kept at arm’s length by Newcastle until Mo Salah did what Mo Salah has been doing a lot lately, scoring when the chance came. Back in a mo.
45 mins: What a save from Karius! Newcastle enjoy a foray upfield and after Gayle holds it up, Diame has a dig from 20 yards. It’s hit quickly and headed for the top corner, but Karius is alert and springs across goal to tip it wide!
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44 mins: There’s an extra bit of zip in Liverpool’s passing now, while Newcastle stay deep in their own half. That will probably change at some point, but you never know.
42 mins: Mo Salah has now scored 32 goals in all competitions; the same number as Newcastle United.
Newcastle’s good work was all undone with one defensive lapse, as Jacob Murphy lost the ball in midfield and Oxlade-Chamberlain was able to charge forward, before slipping a pass to Salah, unmarked in the area. You just can’t do that – and the Egyptian drove the ball in off Dubravka’s legs.
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GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Newcastle (Salah 39')
After a frustrating first half, Liverpool break through with ease, and Mo Salah finishes it off!
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37 mins: Salah gets clattered in midfield and Liverpool launch the free-kick into the box, with Van Dijk and Lovren coming up from the back. Newcastle scramble it away.
35 mins: Liverpool struggling to put any concerted pressure on their opponents, and still relying on long balls from the back. Van Dijk delivers a decent one towards Robertson on the left, but the full-back miscontrols and it bobbles behind.
33 mins: A near-post corner is flicked on by Firmino, but only onto Mo Diamé. Another corner, which Dubravka comes to punch clear and misses completely! The ball flies across the open goal, and out of play.
32 mins: Gayle does well to take down Yedlin’s long ball and backheel past Alexander-Arnold, but he’s on his own and skews his cross out of play.
30 mins: Quick stat – Liverpool have completed more final-third passes (50) than Newcastle have anywhere on the pitch (32). Not much else to report.
28 mins: Gayle, who scored twice at Bournemouth and has also notched at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford this season, gets his first sight of goal, but powers a long-range effort high into the Kop.
27 mins: Space opening up for Liverpool now, and Firmino picks out Salah inside the area. He should hit it with his left, but tries to turn onto his right and Lejeune gets across well to block.
25 mins: After a flurry of slick passes, Alexander-Arnold’s cross is headed behind by Lejeune. Corner – and Lovren’s header is parried awkwardly by Dubravka. He gets a second chance, but it ricochets off Merino and away. Handball appeals from the stands, but not the players.
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23 mins: A bit more noise from the home fans, who have been comfortably outsung by the Newcastle supporters, revelling in the cold and their poor chances of victory.
21 mins: Merino is fouled by Firmino some 35 yards from goal, somewhat unnecessarily. A chance for Newcastle, and centre-back Florian Lejeune lines it up like a conversion before blooting an effort that bounces on its way through to Karius.
@niallmcveigh Are Newcastle fans booing Henderson?
— Mike Jones (@TxacoliMike) March 3, 2018
Indeed they are. It seems Sunderland’s total capitulation as a football club hasn’t mellowed the rivalry.
18 mins: File this opening spell under ‘tentative’.
“My six year old son just told me that he’s a better goalkeeper than Karius,” says Matt Dony. “I don’t think he’s wrong.”
He’s not made any errors thus far. Karius, that is; I can’t vouch for Matt’s kid.
16 mins: There’s been a change of tack from Liverpool, who are now playing long diagonals in behind the packed Newcastle defence. Emre Can picks out Salah on the left, and he shoots on sight, whipping his shot into the side netting from an awkward angle.
14 mins: An opportunity here as Atsu bolts forward, but Gayle’s pass is overhit and Karius races out to clear. Newcastle come again and Yedlin, no slouch either, fires a low cross that the keeper collects.
13 mins: Newcastle have plenty of counter-attacking pace with Jacob Murphy, Kenedy and Christian Atsu – but they can’t escape their own half at the minute.
11 mins: Oof! Robertson’s cross from the left bounces through to Salah, whose snap-shot is deflected away off poor Paul Dummett’s face. That will sting.
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10 mins: Oxlade-Chamberlain makes a break out wide, but like the rest of his team, finds himself quickly surrounded by Newcastle defenders.
8 mins: With Newcastle packing their midfield, Henderson tries a floated long ball towards Mané, but Dubravka is out quickly to collect.
6 mins: That unexpected opening aside, it’s been a pedestrian start.
4 mins: After a spell of midfield possession, Alexander-Arnold whips the ball in towards Mané. Lascelles misses his header but Mané can’t bring the ball down. If he had, Liverpool could easily have been a goal up.
2 mins: Liverpool stroke the ball around their defence. Newcastle, incidentally, are on their longest unbeaten run of the season – four games.
Peep!
Newcastle, in their traditional black and white, kick off. Despite traffic problems on Merseyside, it looks like 95% of fans have got here on time.
Here’s a pre-game prediction to fill us all with glee:
@niallmcveigh I think we're gonna see a cagey match, of the deposition-on-a-dried-branch type. Liverpool to shade it 1-0 on added time.
— El Nero (@Cuiraecen) March 3, 2018
“As a WBA fan, can we just forfeit our remaining ten games and use the time to prep for the Championship next year?” asks Adam Timmins. Is that not what they’ve doing? Sorry.
Discussing Mo Salah’s goaltastic season, Steven Gerrard has just said “as I developed as a player, I became more selfish.” You don’t say, Stevie.
Anyone out there? Will Liverpool continue to rack up the goals, or can Rafa spoil the party? And will Alan Pardew still be in a job by full-time? Your thoughts, as ever, are welcome.
Only one more goal to add to that last update – but a big one for Leicester and Bournemouth, if not anyone else. Riyad Mahrez bagged a 97th-minute equaliser there, while Southampton and Stoke fans are walking out of St. Mary’s with a spring in their step after a goalless draw.
Results
Leicester 1-1 Bournemouth
Southampton 0-0 Stoke
Swansea 4-1 West Ham
Tottenham 2-0 Huddersfield
Watford 1-0 West Brom
Premier League latest
Leicester 0-1 Bournemouth
Southampton 0-0 Stoke
Swansea 4-1 West Ham
Tottenham 2-0 Huddersfield
Watford 1-0 West Brom
A mixed bag for Newcastle, with West Brom (and Alan Pardew) surely sunk, but Swansea getting a big win. Join Barry Glendenning for the latest.
Two changes for Liverpool from the team that beat West Ham 4-1, with Jordan Henderson and Dejan Lovren replacing James Milner and Joël Matip. Two changes also for Newcastle, with Mikel Merino replacing the injured Jonjo Shelvey and Christian Atsu replacing Ayoze Pérez.
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The teams
Liverpool: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Can; Salah, Firmino, Mané.
Subs: Mignolet, Milner, Gomez, Moreno, Lallana, Solanke, Matip.
Newcastle: Dubravka; Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett; Murphy, Merino, Diamé, Kenedy, Atsu; Gayle.
Subs: Darlow, Clark, Ritchie, Hayden, Pérez, Manquillo, Joselu.
Referee: Graham Scott
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Preamble
Hello! In theory, this should be a perfectly enjoyable evening for Liverpool fans. In the Premier League era, no team have been more accommodating visitors than Newcastle. This fixture is forever associated with Stan Collymore’s late winner and poor Kevin Keegan, but it’s rarely so dramatic. Newcastle won at Anfield in their first Premier League visit, in 1994; they have drawn four and lost 17 since.
It’s a perfect opportunity for the hosts, who can name a strong team with a five-goal buffer for their second leg with Porto, to climb up to second. That would also put the heat on Manchester United, who play Crystal Palace on Monday before the big one at Old Trafford next weekend. What’s more, Rafa’s in town today, which is always nice – or at least, it is until the game starts.
Benítez is yet to lose against Liverpool as a manager, and his Newcastle team caused a recent shock against José Mourinho’s side – before throwing away a two-goal lead at Bournemouth. He must hope this is one of those curious days when the Liverpool goal machine temporarily stalls – like back in October, when Newcastle pinched a point as Jürgen Klopp’s side wasted a host of chances.
That result is one of nine league draws this season that have left Liverpool playing for second place, rather than mounting a genuine title challenge. Klopp will want his swashbuckling team to tear out of the traps, and make sure Benítez doesn’t enjoy himself at Anfield this time. Kick-off is at 5.30pm.
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