Newcastle United vs Liverpool Player Ratings as Liverpool are held by Newcastle after a late equaliser

Newcastle United vs Liverpool never fails to deliver as these sides played out an instant classic once again. Liverpool were pegged back by a late equaliser from Fabian Shar as the game ended level at 3-3. An inspired Mo Salah thought he gave Liverpool all three points but there was another twist in the tale. Newcastle United believed they were good enough for the three points but ended up being happy with the single point they got.

Newcastle United started the game with excellent intensity well backed up by a noisy St James’ Park. Sandro Tonali came close to opening the scoring in the first couple of minutes. A compact defensive performance didn’t allow Liverpool to settle into the game. The robust midfield of Newcastle kept winning loose balls and pressured Liverpool into too many errors. The pressure did pay off as Isak collected a simple pass from Guimaraes before turning van Dijk and launching a rocket towards the top right corner. Anthony Gordon should’ve doubled the hosts’ advantage but he squandered a 1v1 against Kelleher. A Liverpool that flew out of the blocks against Manchester City was nowhere to be seen in the first half tonight.

In typical Arne Slot’s Liverpool fashion key tweaks saw an instant impact in the second half. Salah played a fizzed cross into the box and Jones arrived into the box volleying it home to equalise just five minutes into the half. Darwin Nunez was inches away from giving Liverpool the lead. Gordon punished them later as he showed great composure to turn Gomez and slot it past Kelleher. Slot reacted with a triple substitution and Trent immediately found Salah as Liverpool found an equaliser for the second time.

It set up an interesting finale as both sides looked to find a winner late on. Murphy had a chip that sailed wide of the empty net. Isak had a half a claim for a penalty but it was turned away. Salah came the closest as he hit the inside of the left post with a thunderous hit. However, there was no denying the Egyptian king as he finished with aplomb on his left foot after Trent found him in the box. It wasn’t enough as Kelleher misjudged as freekick and Schar showed excellent anticipation to turn it in from beyond the far post to earn Newcastle a single point.

Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope: 6/10- Barely tested in the first half thanks to his side’s excellent midfield performance. Jones’ excellent volley gave him no chance. Made another incredible save to deny Jones the second equaliser.

Defenders

Valentino Livramento: 7/10- Asked to sit a bit deeper today, Livramento helped in the buildup a lot. Was defending well against Gakpo

Fabian Schar: 8/10 – The Swiss defender was a calm presence with the ball at his feet and played out of Liverpool’s press with ease. Showed incredible anticipation as he turned home the late equaliser.

Dan Burn: 6/10 – Back in the lineup again, Burn didn’t have much defending to do in the first half.

Lewis Hall: 6/10 – Was very comfortable playing against Salah. Even had the license to bomb forward and almost scored from a Gordon cutback. He waned off in the second half against Salah.

Midfielders

Bruno Guimaraes: 8/10- Started winning the duels early on in the game. Had a decent effort straight at Kelleher. Found Isak with a simple pass that turned into an assist.

Sandro Tonali: 7/10- Went so close to scoring inside the opening 100 seconds. Completely lost track of Jones as he trotted past him to score.

Joelinton: 7/10 – His physicality was a menace for Liverpool to deal with.

Attackers

Jacob Murphy: 7/10- Perfectly complemented Isak by swapping positions occasionally. Did his fair share of defensive duties to keep Gakpo quiet. Had a huge chance to score with his last touch of the game.

Alexander Isak: 7.5/10- Well he was an injury doubt before the game, but that finish would say otherwise. His right-footed thunderbolt gave Newcastle a deserved lead. Always involved in every attack as he supplied Gordon for the second goal.

Anthony Gordon: 7.5/10- Always looking to cut in from the wing and curl one. Terrorised Quansah throughout the game. Should have scored a certain 1v1 in the first half. Made up for it in the second half with a composed finish.

Substitutes

Harvey Barnes: 6/10

Sean Longstaff: 5/10

Callum Wilson: 6/10

Joseph Willock: 6/10

Manager

Eddie Howe: 6/10- Howe’s side started the game with excellent intensity. Their pressing was on point and the midfield dominated the contest. After the halftime break, the manager failed to set his side up to win. As Liverpool kept running away with the game, he was too slow to react. Will be very lucky to have earned a point in a game his side should’ve had all three comfortably.

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Liverpool Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Goalkeeper

Caoimhin Kelleher: 5/10- A busy man in the opening exchanges. Did well to deny both Tonali and Guimaraes. Stood no chance against Isak’s finish. A huge mistake late in the game that cost Liverpool two points.

Defenders

Jarell Qunasah: 6/10- Starting in an unfamiliar right-back role, he did very little going forward. Gordon spun him in and out throughout the game. Moved to the centre to accommodate Trent and did well to close out the game.

Joe Gomez: 4/10 – Had a key intervention to deny Lewis Hall. Very lucky to get away with a mistake as Gordon fluffed his lines. Was shaken afterwards and kept giving the ball away.

Virgil van Dijk: 7/10- He was turned way too easily by Isak for the opener. Was very ineffective on the ball as well. Grew in confidence in the second half.

Andrew Robertson: 5/10 – A subdued performance from the Scot. Was seen in defence more than he would’ve loved to be.

Midfielders

Ryan Gravenberch: 5/10- His form waned coming into this game as he was slow to react to every situation today. Substituted for a forward-thinking midfielder.

Alexis Mac Allister: 7/10- Picked up a silly booking in the first half and will miss the Merseyside derby on the weekend. Started pushing forward as Liverpool looked to chase the game.

Attackers

Mohamed Salah: 9/10- Very anonymous in the first half as Lewis Hall dealt with him comfortably. As usual, came to the party in the second half and kept creating chance after chance including the assist. A well-taken finish of his right foot to draw Liverpool level. He was the main man once again as another excellent finish gave them the lead for the first time.

Curtis Jones: 7/10- Glimpses of the Curtis Jones of old as he took too long to release the ball. An excellent improvised volley to draw Liverpool level after a fine run.

Cody Gakpo: 5/10- Tried way too much when he had the ball. Looked better in the second half and came to closing with a volley.

Darwin Nunez: 4/10- He contributed more in defence than he ever did in attack in the first half. Missed an absolute sitter as the ball only needed a touch to cross the line in the second half.

Substitutes

Trent Alexander Arnold: 7/10- Entered the fray knowing the task on hand and had an instant impact as he teed up Salah not once but twice. Showed everyone why he was the best in his position.

Luis Diaz: 7/10

Dominik Szoboszlai: 7/10

Manager

Arne Slot: 6.5/10- His side were second-best throughout the first half. The manager’s homework clearly wasn’t enough as the hosts carved through their press. He rectified it in the second half as Liverpool turned the game around. Slot’s substitutions in particular changed the tide of the game. Would have been very frustrated to leave with only a point as Kelleher gifted Newcastle the equaliser.

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