- Alexander-Arnold’s Early Controversial Yellow Card
- Liverpool’s Defensive Struggles and Van Dijk’s Red Card
- Late Substitutes and Goals Turn the Game for Liverpool
Shortly before the most recent World Cup, Gareth Southgate acknowledged that his in-game management still had room for refinement. The only difficulty for the England manager is that his team does not play enough games for him to make the mid-match substitutions and tactical adjustments that set apart managers like Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp.
Regardless, Southgate was at St. James’s Park to observe Klopp’s masterclass on overcoming adversity and prevailing against the odds. Klopp utilized his substitutes excellently and was rewarded with two late game-changing goals from Darwin Nez after his team was quickly reduced to 10 men due to Virgil van Dijk’s early dismissal and fell behind to Anthony Gordon’s excellent opening goal.
The battle between Newcastle’s Gordon and Liverpool’s occasionally inverted right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, was always destined to be an intriguing subplot, but few observers could have predicted that it would spark a game-changing controversy so swiftly.
Alexander-Arnold was shown a yellow card after only five minutes for kicking the ball away in exasperation after Gordon shoved him into the technical area. The referee, John Brooks, had little choice but to issue the yellow card by the most recent legal mandates.
A minute later, an enraged Alexander-Arnold impeded Gordon’s path by flailing an arm and elbowing the left winger. Despite substantial pressure from Howe and Newcastle’s captain Kieran Trippier, Brooks refrained from issuing a second yellow card, opting instead to give the offender a stern lecture.
Given that Alexander-Arnold was not only switching between fullback and midfield but also lowering into central defense to give Jol Matip space to advance, Klopp appeared appropriately relieved. It would prove to be a fleeting emotion.
Following Dominic Szoboszlai’s deft pass, Nick Pope extended a capable palm to deflect Luis Daz’s angle shot. Given that his England manager, Southgate, was seated in the main stand. It must have been reassuring for a custodian prone to uncharacteristic errors when Southgate visits St James’ Park.
This afternoon, however, was illuminated by Pope’s newly deft footwork amid a slew of Liverpool errors. And Alexander-Arnold soon made a blunder after apparently losing concentration. In allowing Mo Salah’s unquestionably awkward pass to wiggle beneath his studs, the fullback allowed Gordon to steal in, seize possession, and demonstrate impressive acceleration before firing a low shot past Alisson into the goal.
Gordon was so adrenaline-fueled and fast that he could have hired Usain Bolt as a sprint coach.
Former Everton winger, England Under-21, appeared to enjoy wearing down Alexander-Arnold and a furious Matip in front of Southgate.
If Alexander-Arnold was having a forgettable afternoon, Virgil van Dijk was about to experience a catastrophe. When Gordon – who else? – played a through ball to Alexander Isak, the Swedish forward had a clean shot on goal but was brought down by Van Dijk’s ferocious challenge just outside the penalty area, potentially denying a clear-cut scoring opportunity.
Brook’s straight red card was upheld by VAR, but neither the center-back nor Klopp was happy. Despite Alisson’s heroics to prevent Miguel Almirón’s goal-bound volley, Liverpool could have been lot worse. If not included in a video of the season’s finest saves, it will be surprising.
Klopp’s response to his team’s reduction to 10 men was to sacrifice Daz in favor of Joe Gomez’s defensive qualities. Gomez’s responsibilities included providing Liverpool’s revamped midfield with additional protection.
Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo, who made his first start, labored to gain touches and had little impact. Whereas Szoboszlai occasionally displayed excellent form.
Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, ably assisted by Bruno Guimares and Joelinton, was tasked with orchestrating the midfield and laying the foundation for Gordon’s onslaught of dangerous crosses, which repeatedly unhinged Klopp’s defense.
Whether or not Salah wishes to leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia is a matter of conjecture. But the Egyptian striker gave Liverpool supporters a glimmer of hope with the occasional menacing attacking cameo. The fact that Salah rarely broke through had less to do with him and more to do with how well Fabian Schar and Sven Botman dealt with the £100 million-rated forward’s cunning movement.
Indeed, after Klopp replaced Endo and Cody Gakpo with Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota, the visiting team improved dramatically. However, Botman’s 11th-minute acrobatic block on Salah prevented a near-certain goal.
Newcastle fans felt a power change as Almirón’s looping left-foot shot hit a post.
Salah and Jota worked well together, and Botman got his foot tangled and missed Jota’s ball. It allowed another substitute, Nez, who replaced Mac Allister, to mute the majority of St. James’ Park.
Nez pounced on the ball and sent a stunning low drive into the bottom corner, ruining Pope’s afternoon.
This was intended to be the moment when Howe secured Newcastle’s first Premier League victory against Liverpool since 2015, thereby gaining the upper hand in his rivalry with Klopp, but instead, Newcastle’s manager appeared bewildered.
He looked sick as Nez collected Salah’s great pass and beat Pope again, this time with a great goal.
