But the character remained, they got a victory in the minority.
Salah sees that the team has weakened
The match will be forgotten, but will the result remain? That’s what Real Madrid can say, and Klopp’s teams are betting on another football. Liverpool will remain a great club even if they go down the table. But the balance of the team’s game is unequivocal. The “Reds” have noticeably lost in terms of intelligence. Brave Nunez’s brace against Newcastle doesn’t change the impression. The team has a new formation in midfield. There is no team play, but problems with the class that ensure teams like Manchester City on bad days.
Salah understands that the state of Liverpool is far from optimal and it is not a fact that the victory over Newcastle will be a turning point. In other words, in the Europa League and Premier League it could fail. Does it make sense for Mohamed to reject the sheikhs’ crazy offer? A year later, the rich could invite another winger, but for now they offer the Egyptian a contract. The decision is being asked to be made tomorrow so that Salah has time to adjust to the Saudi championship.
If they remove Mohamed things will get worse. Gakpo, Nunez and Diaz play more formulaic and simple. Manet and Firmino behaved more intelligently. And if you recall the Uruguayan’s success in the Liverpool attack, then Luis Suarez was much better suited to the base than Nunez, whom Klopp released as a replacement. For now, the Reds cannot be included in the list of big teams. Darwin’s brace after mistakes by Newcastle defenders does not erase Liverpool’s weak showing at the start of the season.
Will argue about the removal of van Dijk
The match was conditioned by Alexander-Arnold’s defensive error. Another error by Trent, who missed the ball under his foot after a low pass over the offside line. But a goal is easier to win back if the teams are evenly matched. But van Dijk’s red card cooled Liverpool’s ardor. Both of the Reds’ centre-backs made a positional error. Van Dijk reassured his partner and decided to bring down Isak so that the Swedish striker would not jump one-on-one with Alisson.
There was a violation, but then casuistry. The referees have left a gray area for interpretations. If you represent the interests of Liverpool, then you can argue that the ball had time to slow down before rolling towards Isak, so that van Dijk hit the opponent’s leg, who just then could not deliver a fatal blow. On the other hand, the Swedish striker competently covered the ball with his body, the position would have been shocking if the ball had successfully slipped forward without van Dijk’s intervention.
Several referees authorized simultaneously, the chief referee and his assistants, made a decision in favor of Newcastle and against van Dijk. Virgil usually plays clean, to date he hasn’t received a red card since 31 December 2016, when the Dutchman was sent off after Southampton’s match against WBA. As part of Liverpool, the new captain did not receive any red cards. Van Dijk’s bookings are also rare, but today the leader got the team back on its feet. Lucky Salah made another assist, 201st goal in action Premier League.
Newcastle play at a level of football Champions League
Coach Howe built a bold team that took the Magpies back to the prestigious tournament. Newcastle showed they are ready for a serious match against Liverpool before wildcard Nunez’s abrupt name reversal. Naturally, even in the majority, the northerners acted rationally. But from the first minutes the difference in the level of the teams was not seen. These are echoes of the central conclusion about the fall of the command class of the “Reds”. Even in midfield, where Guimarães and Tonali were forced to do their dirty work, there were no failures or voids until the two quarter-finals.
The hosts were lucky with the elimination of Liverpool, with equal compositions Klopp would have sent everyone into the attack to save the match much earlier. But Newcastle itself suddenly collapsed. In the first half, winger Gordon successfully jumped into the net and shot under Alisson, and then Isak almost scored again. There was also a frantic save from Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper. Howe can be proud of the wards in the 80 Minutes segment. It is clear that Newcastle do not have a Manchester City team either PSG. The “gazza” sheikhs have a different style, they trust the club’s sports department. Director Amanda Stavely calls colleagues “lonely”, there is order in the club of Ashworth’s younger brother from Spartak. We lost today, but victories will come.
Klopp must be recognized as very lucky
Not the night of the Dutch defenders. Van Dijk retired and Botman took the ball ridiculously and gave Nunez the opener. But Liverpool, if they want to fight Manchester City for the title, need to win more confidently. Klopp knows how to play against Howe. Most often they met when the young “forty” coach worked at the previous club. Poor Eddie lost his second win in 15 games against Klopp today. And so far there has been only one draw. Newcastle failed to pick up the pace in the second half – the main sin of the hosts in the match. Liverpool lack the energy for high-speed football now but have managed two counter-attacks.
As it is important for the Magpies not to dive into the relegation zone, for them a decent match and a draw against Liverpool would be a good match outcome. But if we add the circumstances: the removal of Van Dyck, then it’s time to complain about the fate, accuracy and performance of Nunez. But Klopp doesn’t have to settle for the quality of football and the number of mistakes. Only the result pleased. Jurgen can talk about the red card, but it is better to explain why Liverpool spent so long looking for a defensive midfielder, but in front of the 30-year-old Japanese Endo everyone refused.
It is also difficult to explain to the fans the unpreparedness of the club in the face of the loss of Salah, if the last of Liverpool’s three major attacks left for Saudi Arabia. It so happens that a strong-willed victory in the minority does not help the club to be deceived and forgotten. Liverpool have holes in the center of defense and on the right flank of the defense, because Alexander-Arnold is only good in attack. It is still impossible to gauge Endo’s class, and sagging in the support zone occurred in all matches. Liverpool are no longer a great team, Klopp has a lot of work ahead of him. It remains only to find out with or without Salah.
