Newcastle vs Liverpool result: Jurgen Klopp’s side clinch victory in five-goal thriller

Rafael Benitez set up his side defensively, backed into a rigid 4-5-1 with Perez and Atsu only surging out of the regiment on the breakaway, yet the approach was rendered entirely redundant after a piece of mindless defending from an early corner.

Only 13 minutes had been played when every Newcastle defender appeared to flee the penalty spot as Alexander-Arnold’s whipped ball approached leaving Virgil van Dijk in a greed of space to head past a helpless Martin Dubravka.

It would force Newcastle out of their shells and to chase the game. The studious tactical analysis of Liverpool’s approach, the neurotic tracking of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s runs all disintegrated by the simplest of mistakes.

The controversy came before Christian Atsu thrashed Newcastle’s equaliser into the empty net. A simple cross in from the right flank wreaked havoc in the Liverpool box as Dejan Lovren helplessly attempted to clear the danger. The ball ricocheted around the area before landing at the feet of Salomon Rondon who’s shot was blatantly stopped on the line by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s elbow. Because Atsu then scored from the rebound, the English right-back escaped what would’ve been a certain red card.

For Newcastle though, the question remained as to whether that really was an advantage. Liverpool could have been consigned to ten-men for 70 minutes and lost one of the forward-charging full-backs so integral to their style, while Rondon would still have had the opportunity to score the equaliser from the spot. Perhaps Liverpool would have always come out on top, but the complexion of the game was certainly changed.

At this nail-biting end to the season with Champions League hopes now all but dust, the nerves were palpable amongst Liverpool’s players as soon as Newcastle were back on level terms. The defence disorganised with even Virgil van Dijk temporarily being turned to mincemeat by Ayoze Perez, who teed-up Atsu to almost add his second. For five minutes the Reds could finally string together a series of passes and suddenly the fear was all too much of a reality.

But just as the prospect of unravelling at the finish line flickered towards reality, Mohamed Salah was there to show the decisive flash of measured brilliance to steady his teammates. So often this season, the Egyptian has become a target for criticism – some warranted, some overegged – but as the mayhem ensued he stood tall and put Liverpool back into their stride.

open image in gallery

The nerves rang around St. James Park from every travelling Liverpool fan as Salah fell down appearing at one stage to lose consciousness. After a lengthy break, he was applauded off the pitch by both sets of supporters, hands held to his head as Klopp looked over his talisman by the tunnel in a picture of concern.

They needed him in this game as much as any after Rondon equalised with a terrific half-volley that rocketed into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal. At Anfield in the second leg against Barcelona they need him dearly too. On first glance, if the Egyptian is indeed concussed, that possibility looks distinctly unlikely.

open image in gallery

Shellshocked after Salah’s injury, Newcastle looked as though they may put the final dagger into Liverpool’s title pursuit. But just as hope all but seemed to ebb away Divock Origi became the unlikely hero after a cunning piece of play by Fabinho to win a dangerous free-kick.

Again, it was ineptitude from the Magpies’ defence from a set-piece, but the implications are so much greater. Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross was pinpoint, Origi and Lascelles leapt together. Ultimately, the last touch came off the Newcastle captain but it’s Origi who ran to the crowd to receive his plaudits.

They were rocked to their heels and then a tad more, but Liverpool summoned all their remaining mettle after such a gruelling season to seal a defiant victory and keep the pressure on Manchester City.