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Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool: Match report, player ratings, expert analysis, fan reaction and more

Goals from Darin Núñez and Cody Gakpo are all that Liverpool would need on their away day on Tyneside, with Nick Pope’s sending off for a straight red completing a tough day at the office for Newcastle who still performed admirably despite a tough opening twenty minutes.

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Premier League giants Liverpool look to be on the cusp of finding a period of much-needed revitalization in their return to a loftier perch as Jürgen Klopp’s Reds came away with all three points against high-flying Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

Back-to-back league wins in a matter of days, and winter signing Cody Gakpo finding his feet on Merseyside, could be all that the perennial title challenger needs to make a second-half surge into the race for top four, as Eddie Howe’s Newcastle once again struggled for goals and have finally tasted defeat for the first time in seventeen league outings.

The Reds took lead through Uruguayan frontman Darwin Núñez ten minutes after kick-off when Trent Alexander-Arnold put the former SL Benfica starlet into space to produce a clinical finish with his right foot that left Nick Pope with no chance from just inside the area from a thunderous effort.

Liverpool doubled their lead just seven minutes later through Cody Gakpo after the Dutch international settled Mohamed Salah’s expertly-played chipped ball over the back four before the former PSV Eindhoven star slotted past Pope from twelve yards out.

Events went from bad to catastrophic on Tyneside when Pope was given his marching orders after receiving a straight red card for a handball outside of the box while attempting to head clear after Salah was off to the races in behind the defense when Alisson found the Egyptian on the break after collecting from a Kieran Trippier dead ball.

The Magpies nearly found an avenue of hope just four minutes before stoppage time in the first half when Dan Burn rose tallest in the box from a Tripper corner but could only rattle Alisson’s bar, but it was a sign that Newcastle was still capable of threatening despite the unfortunate sequences of events in the first 20-minutes.

Martin Dúbravka denied Núñez his brace from inside the box after the Uruguayan cut in from the left channel when the Reds looked to hit Newcastle on the break once again before Jürgen Klopp instituted four changes given the club’s midweek Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Second-half substitute Callum Wilson should have done better with a guilt-edged change with less than ten minutes left in normal time when Newcastle once again managed to break, but the England international could only dispatch his effort right at Alisson after fellow Anthony Gordon put him through on goal.

Come full-time, Liverpool could go into midweek on the back of consecutive league wins and are now within touching distance of the top six. As for Newcastle, the high-flying Magpies have tasted defeat just twice this season during the league season, with the Reds the culprit on both occasions. Still, despite Pope being sent off, Howe’s troops displayed a fighting spirit that will serve them well for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign in the hopes that they can secure Champions League football next season.

Newcastle United Player Ratings

  • GK: Nick Pope – 4
  • RB: Kieran Trippier – 7.5
  • CB: Fabian Schär – 6
  • CB: Sven Botman – 7
  • LB: Dan Burn – 7
  • DM: Sean Longstaff – 6.5
  • CM: Elliot Andersen – 6
  • CM: Joelinton – 6.5
  • RW: Miguel Almirón – 6.5
  • LW: Allan Saint-Maximin – 7.5
  • CF: Alexander Isak – 6
  • Sub: Martin Dúbravka – 7
  • Sub: Callum Wilson – 6
  • Sub: Jacob Murphy – 6.5
  • Sub: Anthony Gordon – 6.5
  • Sub: Matt Ritchie – 6

Liverpool Player Ratings

  • GK: Alisson – 7.5
  • RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8
  • CB: Joe Gomez – 7
  • CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7
  • LB: Andrew Robertson – 7.5
  • DM: Fabinho – 7
  • CM: Jordan Henderson – 7
  • CM: Stefan Bajčetić – 6.5
  • RW: Mohamed Salah – 7
  • LW: Darwin Núñez – 7.5
  • CF: Cody Gakpo – 7.5
  • Sub: James Milner – 6.5
  • Sub: Harvey Elliot – 6.5
  • Sub: Diogo Jota – 6
  • Sub: Robert Firmino – 6

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Andrew Thompson

US-based Football writer. German football guru with a wealth of experience in youth development and analysis. Data aficionado. Happily championing the notion that Americans have a knowledgeable voice in the beautiful game.

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