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.
A big three points on the road 🙌#NEWLIV pic.twitter.com/typPxsawsx
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 18, 2023
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.
📰 Table Of Contents
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
Expert Takes & Social Media
Newcastle and Liverpool pay tribute to Christian Atsu, who tragically lost his life in the devastating earthquakes in Turkey. pic.twitter.com/u3B7A5OCXX
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 18, 2023
DARWIN NUNEZ AND CODY GAKPO COME UP HUGE FOR LIVERPOOL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dC84FWiwj1
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 18, 2023
RED CARD Newcastle’s Nick Pope is sent off at St James’ Park following a handball outside the area
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool (22 mins)#NEWLIV
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 18, 2023
Pope will now MISS the Carabao Cup final.
Martin Dubravka is cup-tied, Karl Darlow is on loan at Hull, so…
LORIS KARIUS will be playing his first final since the Liverpool-Real Madrid Champions League final. pic.twitter.com/MjJ9vrqTme
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) February 18, 2023
Karius to be Newcastle’s Keeper in the Carabao Cup Final
The redemption arc is almost complete pic.twitter.com/tg6bSl0iyP
— 𝙇𝙞𝙖𝙢🇧🇪 (@OfficialVizeh) February 18, 2023
Not only is Nick Pope’s sending off funny, it also rules him out of the Carabao Cup final (and Martin Dubravka is also cup tied)
— Casey Evans (@Casey_Evans_) February 18, 2023
27% of all Premier League goals Newcastle have conceded this season have been scored by Liverpool 🙃
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 18, 2023
The last time Newcastle conceded 2 goals in a PL game?
Their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool 17 games ago#NEWLIV
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 18, 2023
Cody Gakpo has now scored 15 goals in all competitions so far this season. Mohamed Salah is the only Liverpool player with more.
Finding his feet in England. 💥 pic.twitter.com/AAjVafoekz
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 18, 2023
FT: Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
xG: 2.05-2.37
Shots: 14-13
Shots on target: 4-7
Final third entries: 45-56
Possession: 37.2%-62.8%
Corners: 6-7The Magpies are beaten by Liverpool again. 🔴#NEWLIV pic.twitter.com/kNK3nXIg4x
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 18, 2023
“Your ban should just be for the competition you are sent off in!”
Is it harsh that Nick Pope will miss out on the Carabao Cup final for getting sent off in the Premier League?#beINPL #NEWLIV ⚫🔴 pic.twitter.com/Si9YT9FKLM
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) February 18, 2023
Allan Saint-Maximin’s game by numbers vs Liverpool:
29 touches
7 dribbles completed (most)
7 duels won
3 shots
2 chances created
0.13 xGBright spark. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/gZQkesUMmm
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 18, 2023
Most chances created in Newcastle vs Liverpool:
◉ Kieran Trippier: 5
◉ Trent Alexander-Arnold: 4The league’s most creative fullbacks at it again. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/tq654zOLXF
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 18, 2023
