Absolutely gutted. Proud of my team and that performance on a night where nearly everything went wrong, but ultimately gutted.
We didn’t deserve that. The better side with 11 men and (somehow) the better side with 10, yet we’ve lost it at the death in devastating fashion, with a 100th minute strike spoiling a monumental effort with almost the final kick.
Much like at Aston Villa, we were comfortably the better side in the first half, but had very little to show for it, with missed chances, one defensive lapse and one red card spoiling a huge effort in the opening 45 minutes.
It was a stop-start game for much of the first half, with free kicks and fouls a theme, but we wasted openings that could’ve been goals with a natural striker on the pitch.
Gordon had two headed chances come and go, with one brilliant Elanga burst and cross also wasted as Gordon got there first but couldn’t bundle past Alisson. For the second time in as many weeks, it felt like we were a quality striker away (Alexander Isak!) from scoring first in a game we were controlling.
But, missed chances and poor final ball, from open play and set pieces, continued and this time we were punished, as some slack closing down left Pope unsighted before Gravenberch fired a shot into the bottom corner. One of few Liverpool attacks, but it was them who struck the first blow.
A tough task then turned into a mountain to climb as Gordon saw red. His pressing, energy and enthusiasm had been a big part of our play to this point, but he overstepped the mark as he flattered into Van Dijk. A yellow card was turned into a red after a VAR check and we headed into the break not just a goal down, but a man down, with our stand-in striker now suspended for upcoming games against Leeds, Wolves and Bournemouth.
One minute into the restart and it felt like game over. Caught out on the break, Liverpool burst beyond our midfield, Gakpo laid off and Ekitike fired past Pope just a minute into the second 45. It had to be him.
But we rallied and showed that fighting spirit, with the oustanding Bruno Guimaraes scoring a goal his never say die display deserved.
His header felt like the catalyst towards a heroic comeback draw, as Osula came on to score what felt like the strike to earn us the unlikeliest of points against the Champions.
St James’ Park erupted and we looked like the side ready to win it with 10 men as 11 minutes of added time was signalled, but we all know what came next. A 100th minute sucker punch as Liverpool made the spare man count, as 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha arrived to finish emphatically.
The defeat hurts like hell, Isak’s absence cost us again and we’ve now lost Gordon to suspension, and Tonali and Joelinton to injuries.
But well we back. A team, manager and club to be proud of, and a big chance to bounce bash at Leeds this Saturday. Howay the lads.