For the second match in a row this, Liverpool helped themselves to a seemingly commanding 2-0 lead only to throw it away with some putrid defensive lapses. Against Newcastle on Monday, the letdown was even worse as Liverpool played the entire second half up a man after Anthony Gordon got himself sent off at the end of the first half. For the second match in a row, however, the Reds managed to salvage a win with late heroics from an unlikely source.
While Liverpool were up a man, Newcastle played a very physical brand of football that allowed them to stay in the match, bullying Liverpool defenders on long throws, free kicks, and corners. In typical Dutch fashion, Arne Slot did not mince his words about a match that saw the ball in play just 40.8% of the recorded time according to OptaJoe, the lowest percentage recorded since 2010.
“Football match, not too sure if I saw a football match. It was set piece after set piece, long throw. It didn’t have a lot to do with tactics. We stood strong. We didn’t collapse at all. They went down to 10 men, you would expect it was a big plus for us but when a goalkeeper takes every free kick there’s not so much help to be one man up.”
While Slot was not thrilled with stylistic choices of Newcastle, he also was frustrated with his own side the times they did have the ball. According to the Liverpool manager, too many players were trying to force things to happen rather than letting the game flow.
“We didn’t play well enough with the ball. Every time we got to the end phase of the attack, our attackers tried to force the ball. I don’t think there was so much advantage to be up a man because of the way they played. ... This is what makes the Premier League so special. I think every fan around the world enjoyed watching this game also because their fans were amazing in the help they gave their home team.”
While many of the tried and true veterans struggled on the day, it was one of Liverpool’s bright young talents who kept his head in a big moment. Rio Ngumoah, who will not turn 17 until Friday, coolly drilled home the winner in the 100th minute. Slot felt Ngumoah exhibited the confidence needed from his first moments on the pitch, despite the pressures and the fact it was his Premier League debut.
“It was a big chance and he’s a player that can finish really well [despite his] age. How firm his shot was, you don’t see that often for a teenager. He’s so confident. The first ball he got he immediately took someone on. For him to score that goal is not completely a coincidence because for his age he’s a really good finisher as well.”