I think it’s fair to say, everyone felt a bit lukewarm going into this one. It’s a sort of catch 22 when you’ve underperformed and dropped points in games like West Ham and Palace, then you run into Liverpool.
If losing, it continues the poor run and can turn it damaging, whereas if winning, while pure class of course, makes you wonder why turgid times against the lesser clubs must be endured when you’re capable of turning over the very best.
For this is undoubtedly what Liverpool are this season. Top of the league, rocking 34 points from a possible 39 and with only a solitary, extremely random defeat at home to Forest across league, Carabao Cup and Champions League (where they also sit top of the entire big massive table).
After a week where they had just taken apart Real Madrid and Man City, it’s probably fair to say that these opponents were unlikely to provide a tonic to our recent ills.
So, I have to say what followed, was a smashing match that had bundles of encouragement and I bet tons of folk enjoyed watching on the television box in their houses.
It almost sprung straight into life as Tonali’s bottom corner bound effort was palmed away by Kelleher within minutes, to set the tone for a first half of gripping stuff.
Fear as they stream forward and Mac Allister’s drive across goal hits the outside of the post.
Hope as Isak plays in Murphy for a similar effort hitting an identical part of the opposite post.
Wonder as to whether an opponent coming and trying to play a game of football allowed United the freedom to play to their capabilities, or if it’s just the presence of a top side that prompts Howe’s charges to raise their game.
Liverpool were most certainly not playing a low block so hooray for that and I don’t want to think about when we face the next one.
Funnily enough, the opening goal was one that would have unlocked any defence. Simple ball from Schar at the back to Bruno, who turned his man and slid the ball through for Isak to run onto. He then unleashed an utter thunderbas…, a rocket launched from the very depths of Mount Doom with flames coming off it. It moved so fast that I completely lost track of the fizzing ball against the backdrop of the lights and Kelleher’s all yellow kit, relying on the sight of rippling net and celebrating Leazes to confirm to me that Isak had indeed notched with what I think you call aplomb. Boom.
Alexander Isak Goal Newcastle Liverpool Virgil van Dijk
You got the feeling the next goal would be huge and Anthony Gordon arguably should have got it. A quick counter saw Isak loft a brilliant pass over the top for Gordon to run onto. Joe Gomez made a mess of his covering run and left young Anthony one on one with the keeper. Kelleher did well to steam out and smother the effort but Gordon should have given him no chance.
This saw United ahead at half time, but within five minutes of the restart things had gone a bit pear-shaped. Salah’s steamed onto a long ball counter and his pass from the right absolutely dissected the defensive attentions of Hall and Joelinton to find the run of Curtis Jones, who smashed it first time to equalise. Oh no lads, don’t fall apart. Moments later Gakpo’s header across the face of goal narrowly spun past the post, with Nunez inches away from connecting with it at the back post. Oh no.
I have to admit, it was a hairy ten minutes worrying that Liverpool would run away with it, and it was fairly against the run of play that United scored another smashing goal. Bruno again showing he’s hopefully back to finding those incisive forward balls as he picked out Isak who laid it forward for Gordon. He showed composure in turning inside Gomez and picked his finish across Kelleher. I’m not sure what his “blah blah” celebration was about mind, but hopefully that goal is a confidence booster for him.
Anthony Gordon Goal Newcastle Liverpool
It almost went all completely brilliant as Isak scored again, absolutely destroying their defence only for an offside flag to deny him. PTSD here from the highway robbery of his magnificent debut at Anfield but this one was fair game.
Things would take a turn for the worse as we demonstrated that we have still not got to grips with Mo Salah. It’s a damn good job Mike Ashley avoided spending the money to buy him back in 2011 isn’t it? Hope he cries himself to sleep thinking of that juicy resale value. Anyway, Joelinton’s crazy pass out of the defensive midfield was intercepted by Alexander-Arnold, who played a one two with Szoboszlai before squaring for Salah to steer in.
Salah then tormented Hall before smashing a vicious effort off the corner of the goal frame and you had to fear the worst. Course, the worst swiftly followed, with Liverpool’s effective little passing triangles creating havoc before TAA centred from almost the exact same position. This time Salah had his back to goal and needed to turn Burn before rifling past Pope. Absolute gut punch that having been well in the game for so long, we were now going to lose to a late goal.
However, with the injury time board on its way up, United had a free kick out wide, that looked threatening but usually means nowt. This time Bruno floated it over to perfection, causing Kelleher to come for it when he couldn’t be sure and finding himself stranded when he couldn’t reach the ball. Schar had continued his run and at full stretch beyond the back post he managed to steer a volley inside the opposite post from an impossible angle, the ball crossing the line in what felt like slow motion. Injury time equalisers are lush when it’s you scoring them.
There were still a few dramatic moments, as Isak’s choice to shoot from another well-placed free kick was the wrong one, I’d have put it in the mixer (you know Fab gets in the mood for it once he starts scoring).
Bizarrely, the final whistle was the most controversial moment for me.
Pope collected the ball from a Liverpool attack and immediately looked to release the counter. He found Isak who steamed towards the defence with Willock motoring outside him and Wilson making a run further inside him. It was pretty much 3 v 1 and it would have represented a mess up if the lads couldn’t have put that away. However, the ref had blown up as soon as Pope had released the ball, an utterly ridiculous call after the official announced five minutes. Yes there were 95 minutes on the board but some extra time should have been played for the settle down after Fab’s goal, with the standard 30 seconds more than enough for one of those three on the counter to secure a 4-3 win that would have been quite cathartic against this particular opposition.
That’s my only real gripe, as the foul for which Isak half-heartedly claimed a penalty was right in front of me, so I can say no chance. Other shouts for a Liverpool handball and a foul on Gordon weren’t so easily made out so I’ll not make snap judgements at this stage.
The point is welcome in my eyes, even if it was three on more than one occasion in the in-play table, but more importantly, the performance was well up on recent efforts and should give hope if carried over to Saturday. On their own ground I’d expect Brentford to also be inclined to involve themselves in a football match and the possibility to kick on, once again, presents itself. Now, which Newcastle are we going to get?
Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3 – Wednesday 4 December 7.30pm
(Stats via BBC Sport)
Goals:
Newcastle United :
Isak 35, Gordon 62, Schar 90
Liverpool:
Jones 50, Salah 68, 83
Possession was Newcastle 41% Liverpool 59%
Total shots were Newcastle 17 Liverpool 16
Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Liverpool 5
Corners were Newcastle 5 Liverpool 6
Touches in the box Newcastle 21 Liverpool 35
Newcastle United team v Liverpool :
Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali (Longstaff 87), Bruno, Joelinton (Willock 88), Gordon (Wilson 87), Isak, Jacob Murphy (Barnes 74)
Unused subs:
Dubravka, Targett, Osula, Almiron, Kelly
You can follow the author on Twitter @Mr_Dolf
(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Very interesting on Newcastle United after Liverpool draw – Read HERE)
(Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)
(WOW! Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3 – Read HERE)
Newcastle United upcoming matches confirmed to end of January 2025:
Saturday 7 December – Brentford v Newcastle (3pm)
Saturday 14 December – Newcastle v Leicester (3pm)
Wednesday 18 December – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm) Sky Sports+ (Carabao Cup)
Saturday 21 December – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)
Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon
Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Weekend of Saturday 11 January – Newcastle v Bromley TBC
Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)