Early Game of the Season Contender sees Liverpool just holding off 10-Man Newcastle

In what was a rollercoaster of a match, Liverpool were able to emerge victorious despite once again surrendering a two-goal advantage. Here’s everything you need to know from what could just be the Game of the Season. 

(Image Credit to Owen Humphreys/PA)

If you’re a Liverpool fan, you’ve got to be feeling a little nervous about how this team looks through two Premier League matchdays. 

But even then, they’ve won two games out of two. 

Yay? 

No yay. The Reds did not deserve this win at all. Once again, they got lucky in a game where they could’ve easily dropped points. The backline is shaky, and Ibrahima Konaté was easily the worst player on the field; he had himself more of a howler than the one Ronald Weasley received after crashing his family’s Flying Ford Anglia in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 

Honestly though, that car’s impact in the movie would’ve been more valuable for Liverpool than Ibrahima Konaté. 

Harry Potter references aside, I say all of that as a Liverpool fan. 

Ranting aside, the match was a tale of several phases. The first half-hour saw Newcastle completely outclass Liverpool, sending shot after shot towards the Liverpool goal. At one point, 83% of the match was played outside of Newcastle’s final third. 

The game shifted entirely after that point; Ryan Gravenberch, who was yellow-carded earlier as a result of a challenge on Bruno Guimaraes, put home a long-range effort that got past a solid Newcastle defence. 

For the next twenty minutes of play, Newcastle were on the back foot. Anthony Gordon, who was my Man of the Match pick for much of the first half, initially received a yellow card for a tackle on Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk; a VAR review would eventually lead to a final decision of a red card. 

It got worse. With fans and even Arne Slot himself still filing into their seats, Hugo Ekitike made it 2-0 for Liverpool, scoring his third goal in as many appearances for Liverpool after a transfer from the Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt. 

At this point, much of the belief from the first 30 minutes had left the stadium. Even then, the next stretch would see Liverpool held to just seven touches in the Newcastle goalkeeper's box. 

That would be part of Newcastle’s turnaround, which truly accelerated after Bruno Guimaraes scored Newcastle’s first goal of the season to halve the Reds’ advantage. Then, William Osula, who came on just a few minutes before in a substitution, would get lucky on a shot through the legs of Allison; his effort would slowly find its way into the Liverpool net to level the contest at 2 goals. 

With the energy back in St James’ Park, Newcastle were on the verge of completing an improbable turnaround; with eleven minutes of stoppage time still to come, the Magpies could even win the game outright.

For Liverpool, it was the second blown two-goal lead in as many Premier League games. 

When one typically thinks of a late substitution for a young talent making his Premier League debut, they’d think of it as a chance to give him some playing experience and to secure a result. 

For Rio Ngumoha, the latter statement holds some truth. But that was only scratching the surface; a chance in the 10th minute of stoppage time would see Mohamed Salah send a pass to the London-born debutant, who would put home the chance and give Liverpool the edge with mere minutes to play. 

In conclusion, Liverpool will have been lucky to earn the three points, but Newcastle should be happy with how they played in this match. 

Man of the Match:

One could easily give this award to most of the players on the pitch, but I’m giving it to Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes. Despite the loss, Guimaraes gave his team a chance throughout the game. Prior to Anthony Gordon’s red card, Guimaraes was able to consistently put him and others like Tino Livramento in position to score and give Newcastle some form of foothold in the match. 

In addition, Guimaraes’ goal in the 57th minute of play would effectively reverse Liverpool’s earlier momentum, giving his team a chance to earn a result. 

What’s next?

Liverpool will have to correct their defensive struggles quickly as Arsenal, who won each of their opening two matches, travel to Anfield in what could be a huge match in the title race.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United will travel to Elland Road to take on a Leeds United side coming off of a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal.

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Article written by Noah Guttman