Liverpool vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
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Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a spectacular goal as the Reds bounced back from the loss of three players to suspected positive COVID-19 tests to beat Newcastle United 3-1 in their Premier League clash at Anfield on Thursday.
Liverpool move onto 40 points from 17 games, one behind leaders Manchester City who beat Leeds United 7-0 on Tuesday.
With Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones all ruled out for the hosts, Jonjo Shelvey struck the opener for Newcastle against the run of play in the seventh minute, with a swerving, dipping drive past unsighted goalkeeper Allison Becker.
The lead lasted 14 minutes before Diogo Jota fired home the rebound after Martin Dubravka saved his initial header to level, with Newcastle’s players complaining the ball should have been put out of play as Isaac Hayden was down injured in his own box.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead four minutes later and Alexander-Arnold got the third with an 87th-minute rocket to wrap up a win that leaves Newcastle second-bottom on 10 points.
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Konate, Robertson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Thiago, Henderson, Salah, Jota, Mane
Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Lewis, Hayden, Shelvey, Fraser, Murphy, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Four more Premier League fixtures called off
There’s news coming out of the Premier League that a further four matches have been called off this weekend due to the rising cases in coronavirus.
Manchester United vs Brighton had already been cancelled but now Southampton vs Brentford, Watford vs Crystal Palace and West Ham United vs Norwich City on Saturday are gone as well.
On Sunday game Everton vs Leicester has been called off too.
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Fabinho on Thiago and Henderson
Liverpool have never lost when Fabinho and Thiago have played together in midfield and with the ever-reliable Jordan Henderson alongside them, the Brazilian says Liverpool’s have found the right balance and chemistry in midfield:
I’m really happy with my moment, with the team’s moment. I don’t want to get injuries, I want to always play, always help the team. And that’s the case for Thiago [Alcantara] and Hendo [Jordan Henderson] as well.
“They keep playing good football, they are really important in the defensive part but offensively I think they are doing good things for the team – they scored some goals as well, that’s important for the team.
“The team are playing really good, and this left side with Thiago and the right side with Hendo, I think the chemistry of the team is really good, so hopefully this moment will keep going.
“Thiago is a really good player. It’s not hard to adapt to a player like this. We’ve been playing together I don’t know how long now, but Thiago is someone easy to play with. We both speak Portuguese, so it’s something that can help us.
“I think in our position we can adapt to each other, with Hendo as well. I think for the team this is good because the midfield has an important role in this team.
“So we try to keep running, pressing and have quality with the ball to give [it] to our offensive players.”
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Fabinho on Newcastle
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho recently spoke about tonight’s fixture with Liverpool, the midfield bond between himself and Thiago Alcantara and the chemistry he has with Jordan Henderson. On Newcastle Fabinho said:
In the Premier League, there is no easy game. Newcastle are not in a really good moment right now, fighting against relegation, but for us it doesn’t matter who we will play against.
“We want to just always play good football, try to win. We’ll play at home, so hopefully we will keep playing good football, create chances and scoring goals.
“So hopefully tomorrow will not be different and we will win the game.”
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Premier League clubs frustrated by ‘reactive’ handling of Covid chaos
Premier League clubs are increasingly concerned the sharp rise in Covid cases is only going to escalate, which could force a pause in domestic action or a return to behind-closed-doors fixtures.
The Independent has spoken to staff throughout the division, from coaches to medical teams, to understand how the virus could potentially shape the festive period and beyond.
Five top-flight matches have already been postponed, while Tottenham’s Europa Conference League clash against Rennes will not be rescheduled and has been referred to a disciplinary panel despite Spurs dealing with an outbreak.
Premier League clubs frustrated by ‘reactive’ handling of Covid chaos
Members of coaching and medical teams at top-flight clubs spoke to Melissa Reddy about their concerns amid rising cases and fresh game postponements
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Recent results
Liverpool are on a seven game winning run across all competitions including victories in their last five Premier League fixtures. Last time out Steven Gerrard returned to Anfield with his new club Aston Villa but the Reds were triumphant thanks to a second half penalty from Mo Salah. That win kept them in second place but Manchester City’s 7-0 thrashing of Leeds on Tuesday has extended their lead over Liverpool to four points. Jurgen Klopp will want to pick up another three points tonight to keep up the pace with the Premier League champions.
Newcastle are desperately fighting to avoid relegation. They earned their first win of the season (1-0 vs Burnley) at the start of December but were battered 4-0 by Leicester last time out. Eddie Howe’s men will have a difficult task ahead of them this evening but they drew both league fixtures against the Red last season and will be hoping for a repeat performance.
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Premier League not planning for Covid circuit break despite raft of postponements
The Premier League is insistent on continuing the season without any pause, despite an increasing number of English clubs being willing to back Thomas Frank’s call for a circuit break until at least 26 December. It is understood that is not currently being considered centrally.
The game has been thrown into chaos with the Omicron variant rampaging through clubs, with the postponement of Manchester United’s home match against Brighton and Hove Albion the fifth match to be postponed in the top division this week. I
t has left football scrambling to react to the situation, with the authorities decreeing that squads will return to Project Restart protocols.
Premier League not planning for Covid circuit break despite raft of postponements
The advice clubs are getting is that this will prove a ‘short and sharp wave’ despite the Omicron variant rampaging through a number of teams
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Team news
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino has recovered from a hamstring injury and could feature for the Reds while Curtis Jones is dealing with an eye issue and Divock Origi has a minor knock. Both players are set to miss out tonight.
Nathaniel Phillips, Harvey Elliott and Adrian remain unavailable for selection.
Newcastle defender Federico Fernandez has a thigh injury and is likely to be unavailable until the new year. Paul Dummett remains sidelined as well.
Liverpool vs Newcastle
Follow for live updates as Liverpool host Premier League strugglers Newcastle at Anfield tonight. Jurgen Klopp’s side are looking to extend their winning run to eight matches in all competitions and another victory would see them close the gap to leaders Manchester City to just one point as the Premier League approaches its halfway stage. The Reds needed a second-half Mohamed Salah penalty to beat Aston Villa on Steven Gerrard’s Anfield return on Saturday, in what was their fifth straight win in the Premier League.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have just one win to their name all season and are beginning a tough run of fixtures that sees them face Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United over the Christmas period, with manager Eddie Howe desperate for points to alleviate their relegation concerns. The Magpies remain in the relegation zone and came crashing back to earth last weekend, following their first win of the season against Burnley, as they lost 4-0 at Leicester. Follow for live updates and team news ahead of Liverpool vs Newcastle tonight.
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