ST JAMES' PARK, NEWCASTLE // Mohamed Salah looked to have dug Liverpool out of a hole again as he inspired a second-half turnaround for Arne Slot's side at Newcastle, only for a Caoihmin Kelleher error to allow the host to make it 3-3.
Alexander Isak smashed the opening goal into the back of the net in the first half and Curtis Jones' leveler at the same end was not dissimilar just after the break. Liverpool had played poorly up to that point but then allowed a way back, aided by several Newcastle missed chances.
Newcastle went ahead for a second time through Anthony Gordon before Salah pulled something out of nothing for Liverpool once again. For long period, it looked like Liverpool was going to be beaten. Salah, though, had other ideas, even if he wasn't quite able to force the three points over the line.
Winners
Curtis Jones was one of few looking like they would come out of the match with any credit when he brought the teams level at 1-1 with a good finish. At that point in the game, he was the pick of a not-particularly-great outfield bunch, though Salah ended up eclipsing him.
Gordon proved why Liverpool is an admirer of the winger with a good performance and a goal. That certainly isn't a winning factor for the Reds at the moment.
Losers
No one in a Liverpool shirt performed well in the first half with Arne Slot's side struggling to get a grip of the game. Alexis Mac Allister picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, however, was far from ideal for the Argentine. Mac Allister will now sit out the Everton game the weekend as a result of his caution. Dominik Szoboszlai will get the chance to step up.
Player ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher (5). Had made a couple of good saves before Isak slammed home the opening goal. He could do nothing about the shot that flew past him. Beaten three times and the final goal of the game was his mistake.
Jarell Quansah (5). It was on this ground last season that the defender burst onto the scene when Van Dijk had been sent off. Playing right-back isn't his natural position and it showed against Gordon. Limited going forward but that's exactly what you would expect. Booked when he got caught in possession.
Joe Gomez (5). Pretty good on the ball to begin with (apart from when he slipped in Gordon) and strong in the tackle. It was looking like a generally solid performance from a player who is more than capable of slotting in all across the backline, but he didn't cover himself in glory for the Gordon goal, when he was caught off balance.
Virgil van Dijk (6). Front-footed with his defending and aggressive but not always comfortable. Did he know what he was doing when he left one on Gordon? The VAR decided not. He grew into the game.
Andy Robertson (6). Got caught out of position a couple of times and didn't offer much of an attacking threat, With Kostas Tsimikas out inured, he is playing more than is probably ideal.
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Ryan Gravenberch (6). Got caught on the ball too many times in the middle of the field, where he seemed surprised at the intensity. The Dutchman normally makes it look like he is five steps ahead of everyone else but that wasn't the case here.
Alexis Mac Allister (6). Drew a good save from Nick Pope inside the first 15 minutes and on the next attack hit the post. He spoke heading into the game about wanting to improve his "numbers" and scoring is a key metric if he can find a way of netting a few more. Booked, which means he will miss the Merseyside derby at the weekend, and got frustrated in a couple of moments.
Curtis Jones (7). Definitely the best of the Liverpool midfielders but he didn't quite have the touch to break Newcastle down in the final third when the chance presented itself. He did, though, find the leveler. Set up by Salah, he smashed the ball into the roof of the net. As the second half grew, he helped up the Liverpool intensity with his passing.
Mohamed Salah (8). Very quiet in the first half, where Lewis Hall didn't give him a millimeter. That changed in the second 45 minutes and, as is typical, he found the back of the net with a snapshot, this time on his weaker right foot.
He also created a couple of chances for others and hit the bar. He took the game by the scruff of the neck and found what he thought was the winner. It was never going to be anyone else.
Darwin Nunez (6). Barely involved in the first half, aside from when he dribbled the ball out for a goal kick with a heavy touch. Couldn't get himself involved enough and didn't really hold the ball up at all. No better second half.
Cody Gakpo (6). Hardly touched the ball in the first 45 minutes (even less than Nunez). Subbed off for Luis Diaz just before the second equalizing goal was scored.
Substitutes
Luis Diaz (6). Perhaps surprisingly left out of the starting XI, the Colombian didn't make much of an impact when he came on. He is likely to start at the weekend, possibly as the number nine.
Dominik Szoboszlai (6). Added some energy in the middle of the pitch and that was very much needed. Didn't offer much in terms of guile.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7). Came on and immediately assisted a goal. Booked for a foul on Gordon. Showed intensity and quality and helped make the difference in the final third.