Newcastle United had Liverpool rattled after the opening 45 minutes on Wednesday, and Virgil van Dijk knew it.
Ahead of the game, Wor Flags sent a clear message to the Newcastle United players. They were told to ‘get into them’, while they were reminded that Eddie Howe does not want his team to be popular – he wants them to compete.
That set the tone for an enthralling night of football, as Newcastle’s work rate and mentality was exceptional.
The Magpies were difficult to play against. The intensity off the ball was outstanding, and it made for a very uncomfortable first-half for Liverpool.
They recovered in the second-half, as Newcastle vs Liverpool ended 3-3.
But Newcastle will feel they deserved to beat Liverpool, and they might have been able to had it not been for what Virgil van Dijk said to his teammates during the interval.
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk plays during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St. James's Park in Newcastle, United K...
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk ‘had a few things to say’ during Newcastle vs Liverpool
Following Newcastle’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool, Van Dijk admitted to the i Paper that he had to have words with his teammates after they let their standards slip during the opening 45 minutes at St James’ Park.
“It was all about the players,” he said.
“I had a few things to say, others did as well. You can talk about tactics but it begins with winning battles, winning duels, winning 50-50 challenges and second balls.
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“We have to learn from that first half [against Newcastle].”
Newcastle made it uncomfortable for Van Dijk and Liverpool
Newcastle were at it from the first minute on Wednesday, while Liverpool were off it.
That is why the Magpies were much the better team during first-half. They forced Liverpool to make mistakes high up the pitch, and it almost culminated in a famous win.
Given how dominant Liverpool have been as of late, there is no shame in only drawing. Liverpool sorted themselves out, as Van Dijk told some home truths in the dressing room after a whirlwind half of football.
He called on his teammates to win more tackles and second balls, after being smothered by Eddie Howe’s side. Even the giant Dutchman had a tough night, as Alexander Isak caused him countless problems. It was Isak’s best game of the season, despite being up against the best centre-back in the world.
When this Newcastle team are at their best, they make their opponents uncomfortable. They unsettle them, to the point that they cannot fight back.
Liverpool did find a way on Wednesday, but that perhaps says more about a team that had just beat Manchester City and Real Madrid than it says about Newcastle.
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