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Newcastle United 0-2 Liverpool: Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo on target for Reds in Premier League victory
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Published 18/02/2023 at 17:48 GMT
Newcastle will need to regroup and turn their full focus to the League Cup final against Manchester United next Sunday after they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool in their Premier League clash. The Magpies had goalkeeper Nick Pope sent off in a dramatic first half as Liverpool netted twice through Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo before going on to secure a comfortable victory.
'Massive, massive, massive' - Klopp on Liverpool's win at Newcastle
Video credit: SNTV
Liverpool reignited their top-four hopes with an impressive 2-0 victory as 10-man Newcastle saw goalkeeper Nick Pope sent off.
The Reds snatched the lead on 10 minutes when Darwin Nunez struck his first league goal since November 12 with a thumping effort that finished off Trent Alexander-Arnold’s sumptuous pass.
Cody Gakpo then stunned the St James’ Park faithful just seven minutes later when he made it two in two matches to polish off Mohamed Salah’s wonderful first-time pass.
Newcastle’s evening then took a further turn for the worse as Pope misjudged Alisson’s long kick towards Salah and handled outside the penalty area. The referee was left with no choice but to produce a red card, which rules the Magpies stopper out of next week’s League Cup final.
Despite being a man down, the hosts still had plenty of opportunities in an action-packed first period. Indeed, Alisson made brilliant saves to tip Allan Saint-Maximin’s shot onto the bar and thwart Miguel Almiron when the forward was clear on goal.
Dan Burn also hit the woodwork with a header as Newcastle continued to push for a way back into the contest.
The hosts looked the more likely in a more turgid second half with Fabian Schar nodding a free header wide, before Alisson again produced heroics to block substitute Callum Wilson’s shot.
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Howe on Liverpool defeat: 'We were very good with 10 men despite harsh red card'
Video credit: SNTV
The result means Liverpool climb to eighth and within six points of Newcastle in fourth spot, with the Merseysiders still to play a game in hand. The Magpies, who see their 17-match unbeaten league run come to an end, are just two points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham.
Next up, Liverpool host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday before visiting Crystal Palace in the league on Saturday.
Newcastle will need to regroup and turn their full focus to the League Cup final against Manchester United next Sunday.
Talking point
A double whammy for Newcastle as Liverpool revival continues. Not only was this defeat a blow for Eddie Howe and his players in terms of the race for the Champions League places, but it also leaves them with a goalkeeping headache ahead of their first major cup final since 1999 and their first League Cup final since 1976.
Pope’s red card means he will be suspended for next Sunday’s Wembley showdown with Manchester United and, in a bizarre twist, back-up keeper, Martin Dubravka is cup-tied after playing for the Red Devils in the same competition earlier this season.
That means former Liverpool stopper, Lloris Karius, could well step in for his first competitive performance for an English side since his horror-show in the 2018 Champions League final.
It could be a redemption story or it may play into United’s hands. It remains to be seen…
As for Liverpool, with Virgil van Dijk and a host of attackers back from injury, they are beginning to look like their old selves. They are the only team to beat Newcastle (twice) in the league this term and seem to have found some semblance of form ahead of the small matter of Real Madrid in midweek.
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Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (L) and Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe react during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park
Image credit: Getty Images
Player of the match
Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle). The Frenchman may have ended up on the losing side, but he was electric throughout the contest. He was unlucky not to score with a shot that Alisson touched on to the bar and remained a major threat despite his team going down to 10-men.
Player Ratings
NEWCASTLE: Pope 3, Trippier 7, Schar 6, Botman 6, Burn 7, Longstaff 6, Joelinton 6, Anderson 5, Almiron 6, Isak 6, Saint-Maximin 8. Subs: Dubravka 7, Wilson 6, Gordon 7, Murphy 6, Ritchie 6.
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 8, Alexander-Arnold 8, Gomez 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7, Fabinho 6, Bajcetic 7, Henderson 7, Salah 7, Nunez 7, Gakpo 7. Subs: Jota 6, Firmino 6, Elliott 6, Milner 6.
Match Highlights
04’ NEWCASTLE CHANCE! The Liverpool keeper spreads himself and produces a brilliant stop to deny Almiron after the forward was set free by Saint-Maximin.
10’ – GOAL! – Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool. Nunez takes down Alexander-Arnold's sublime ball through the middle and thunders an unstoppable shot beyond Pope.
17’ – GOAL! – Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool. Gakpo takes down Salah's lovely first-time pass and flashes it past Pope on the stretch.
22’ NEWCASTLE RED CARD! Nick Pope comes charging out of his area to try and stop Salah getting on the end of a quick kick from Alisson. He judges it all wrong and ends up handling the ball after missing an attempted header. It's a crazy decision and could be very costly.
31’ NEWCASTLE CHANCE! Saint-Maximin drives in from the right and then twists and turns before digging out a shot that Alisson just about tips on to the crossbar.
41’ NEWCASTLE CHANCE! Burn rises to meet Trippier's right-wing corner but sees his bullet header crash back off the woodwork.
83’ NEWCASTLE CHANCE! Alisson produces another fabulous stop to deny the hosts after Gordon's superb run and pass had put Wilson in on goal.
89’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Jota misses an absolute sitter when he guides a free header wide from five yards out.
Key Stats
Liverpool record a fourth league double over Newcastle in the last five seasons.
The Merseysiders kept a Premier League clean sheet outside of Liverpool for the first time since a 1-0 win at Newcastle in April.
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