How the national media reacted to Newcastle United's dramatic 3-2 defeat to Liverpool
Eddie Howe reacts.
National media were all saying the same thing after Newcastle United's defeat.
(Image: Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
A gusty performance wasn't enough for Newcastle United as they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Liverpool on Monday night. The 10 men battled from two goals down to equalise in a dominant display against the Premier League champions.
However, in the 10th-minute of second-half stoppage time, 16-year-old Liverpool starlet Rio Ngumoha left St James' Park stunned with the winner. Eddie Howe's side had fought back from losing Anthony Gordon, after being issued a red card after a challenge on Virgil van Dijk, and two-nil down to be pushing for a match-decider of their own.
Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula were on target for Newcastle and looked the more likely go snatch a win at the death, but it was the title-holders that claimed the points.
St James' Park was a cauldron with the bubbling tension between both clubs in recent weeks following the saga surrounding Alexander Isak, the Swede's future has been the backdrop to the contest and the drama delivered - only to the detriment of Newcastle. And while The Chronicle was in attendance, here's how the national media viewed the defeat for Howe's side.
Oliver Holt of the Daily Mail wrote: "This was a night from hell for the hosts, a night of a player sent off and others lost to injury, a night of spirit in the face of adversity from the ten men left on the pitch, spirit that counted for nothing when Liverpool scored a 100th minute winner for a stunning 3-2 victory.
"Part of the visceral energy coursing around the ground stemmed from the fact that Liverpool embody everything Newcastle want to be. They are also the epitome of everything Newcastle detest and much that they envy.
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"They play in a city, as Liverpool do, that has often felt pushed to the margins, but Liverpool are part of the English football elite. They have built a pattern of consistent success, both domestically and in the Champions League."
The Telegraph's Luke Edwards points out that Newcastle have to make a decision on their attacking plan with the impact of Isak's absence becoming abundantly clear.
"This has dragged on long enough," he writes. "It is time to make a decision and tell everyone what it is. Newcastle United have claimed all summer that Alexander Isak is not for sale. If that is the case, say it publicly and put an end to this draining, damaging transfer saga.
"A story that has had a question mark attached to it for months, needs a full stop. The speculation about him signing for Liverpool, the claim and the counter-claims, have become tedious.
"They are arguably doing more harm than good, especially in Newcastle’s various transfer negotiations to sign another centre-forward.
"Clubs think they might have Isak money to spend, so crank up the asking price. Their transfer targets do not know if they will be first choice or competing with Isak to start if they sign.
"The lack of clarity is putting everything Newcastle are doing in a muddling, disorientating fog."
Writing in The Times, Martin Hardy highlighted the cruel nature of professional football and in particular, the gut-wrenching manner in which Newcastle have lost to Liverpool, again, as history repeats itself.
He wrote: "Oh, how those footballing gods twist their knives for this fixture.
"How it rouses something primal in footballing supporters and indeed players. It is a game that never ends in terms of late drama, and from there comes either delirium or despair, depending on your colours.
"This time it was the tenth minute of added time when a 16-year-old, Rio Ngumoha, struck the most dramatic of winners on the most dramatic of nights.
"He became the youngest scorer in Liverpool’s history when he struck, low into the far corner of Nick Pope’s goal, to finally defeat the gallant ten men of Tyneside.
"The Liverpool bench ran down the touchline in celebration. Newcastle’s players collapsed to join their fans in devastation."
For The Guardian, Andy Brassell ignores the elephant in the room and highlights a heroic performance by Newcastle captain Bruno. In the cold light of day with one of his teammates in the headlines for wanting the leave the club, it's pointed out who the figurehead is at St James' Park.
"It was never him," he begins. "Those outside may have thought it was him, and he might himself have thought it was him.
"Alexander Isak was appreciated, inspired awe as he became close to the Premier League’s greatest striker, and was even loved, as the celebratory chant hailing their striker from Sweden – to the tune of Abba’s Gimme Gimme Gimme – rang around pubs and playgrounds alike.
"Yet he was never quite The One. As St James’ Park cheered in response to the home lineup being read out over the speakers, nobody received the roar that Bruno Guimarães did.
"Even after a late, dramatic defeat to the Liverpool that have spent this summer as the Geordies’ bogeyman, threatening to take Isak away, that tumult will endure.
"It is bittersweet now, as the supporters nurse a deep sense of betrayal over their absent forward, that Isak and Guimarães were dually complicit in the funniest, and most touching, of moments during March’s celebrations following the Carabao Cup win.
"Isak mischievously prodded Guimarães into singing the X-rated version of the Sandro Tonali song, even though the Brazilian had just promised Ant and Dec he wouldn’t swear, like a conniving elder brother pushing his unwitting younger sibling headfirst into trouble. Like family.
"Now the roles are reversed, with Isak having taken his ball home and Guimarães wearing the long trousers."