Newcastle United lost 2-3 to Liverpool on Monday night in an epic tussle that saw the poorer team pick up all three points. The cruelty of football is well known around these parts, but this was not a night for wallowing as the lads gave a performance that was everything we wanted it to be, bar the result.
Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike had given Liverpool a two-goal lead (with an Anthony Gordon red card sandwiched in-between) before Bruno Guimarães and William Osula pulled United’s ten men level late on. Rio Ngumoha scored the late winner in the 110th minute.
Here are 4 things I liked (and 1 I didn’t) from the game:
**Liked: Bruno Guimarães – Midfield Maestro**
Has a transfer from abroad come into a club before and just got ‘it’ to the level the Bruno does? If United’s midfield were a symphony, Bruno Guimarães would be the first violin (with a little drum and bass thrown in, such is the Brazilian’s brilliance playing on the edge). His 66th consecutive start for United, and during that time, he has covered more ground than any other player in the league.
His performance was a masterclass in passion, composure, grit, quality, and creativity. Whether it was his incisive passing (as seen in the through ball to Barnes in the 2nd half), deft control under pressure (draws the most fouls of any player in the league), or the way he orchestrated the pressing structure, Bruno was everywhere. His goal was a brilliant example of his physicality as he bullied Kerkez at the back post to get the header.
Sandro Tonali may have the midfield maestro chant, but we definitely have two of them of the highest order in our midfield.
**Liked: United’s Resilience – The Never-Say-Die Mags**
2-0 down to a goal against the run of play in the first half and a sucker punch goal 20 seconds into the second half, down to ten men, the tide seemingly turning against us at every turn (ref included, although we’ll park that for now), but the resilience shown by the lads was exactly what fans wanted to see and why I believe we will achieve so much this season despite the defeat on the night.
Tonali played on with a damaged shoulder, Joelinton injured himself for the cause (as did Fabian Schär), Bruno roared, and Tino pocketed Salah again; it was breathtaking stuff at times, but unfortunately, it still came up just a little short as the man advantage eventually told, but the commitment was first-class.
Make no bones about it – the better side lost that game, we know it, Liverpool know it, Slot knows it, the media know it; sure, the media narrative has been dominated by the 16-year-old late goalscorer, but it shouldn’t have been. That wasn’t the story, not at all, and if we can replicate performances like that, we’ll take a lot of points this season.
**Liked: Early Dominance and Tactical Discipline**
United came out of the blocks like the proverbial team with a point to prove. The pressing was relentless and suffocated Liverpool. The tactical discipline was hugely evident; Eddie Howe’s game plan executed to near perfection as we pressurised Liverpool’s defence. It was adrenaline-fuelled football yet with purpose, passion, and precision, but it was just lacking the final touch in the opening half an hour.
If Alexander Isak wasn’t so unprofessional, we would be sat on six points so far this season. Thankfully, his influence hasn’t poisoned the team spirit, which I’m sure the coward was hoping it would, and Eddie and the lads deserve such huge praise for keeping it together in the middle of this unrelenting transfer firestorm.
Watching those lads give their all for us on Monday and many of them walk away injured too has flipped that switch in my mind about Isak. He doesn’t deserve to pull on the shirt again; he’s gazumped Michael Owen for me personally and is now the most mercenary footballer to ever wear the Black and White, and if he’s not sold before the window closes, I hope there is some way he can be left to rot for the rest of his contract despite the huge financial hit the club will take.
**Didn’t like:** **Simon Hooper – A Referee Out of His Depth**
Now, I’m all for giving people the benefit of the doubt (Isak aside, obviously), but Simon Hooper’s officiating was awful. The game swallowed him up to such a degree that it should set his refereeing career back a few years as he goes away and learns how to do the job all over again.
The inconsistencies, baffling non-decisions, booking a player when he shouldn’t/not booking a player when he should, and the general sense that he was refereeing a different game entirely made it maddening to watch. In a match of this stature, you need a referee who can handle the pressure, not one who looks like he’s trying to remember if he left the kettle on at home and is puffing after 20 mins.
While it’s easy to pin frustrations on officiating (and Liverpool fans will cry ‘sour grapes’), he simply was not the right appointment for a game of that magnitude. The red card is by the bye; I’m not mad about it either way. What is infuriating is the lack of punishment for Konaté two-hand pushing Barnes in the back when he’s in behind and the defender is already on a yellow. The blatant holding of Joelinton in the box— something we were told was going to be clapped down on this season—and only the day before was punished in the Fulham v Man Utd game. Gravenberch’s scissor tackle on Bruno.
United are hamstrung by the fact that the best referee in the league cannot ref us, as he supports us, so we’re always left with the dregs from the PGMOL pool. (And yes, Simon Hooper, the kettle’s fine. Focus on the game.)
**Liked: St. James’ Park – A Cauldron of Emotion**
SJP was in fine voice, creating an atmosphere that would rattle anybody. The noise after United’s second goal probably registered on the Richter scale, and the roar that greeted the late corner when we were pushing for a winner almost left me with ringing ears.
The passion, the anger, the chants, the unwavering support showed why St James’ Park is the most intimidating ground in the Premier League. It wasn’t quite enough on the night, and while the final whistle brought heartbreak, the performance was brimming with positives, and that should be our main takeaway from a game of the magnitude.
St James’ Park continues to enthral and delight as there is nowhere else quite like it in the division. Other clubs think they have a good atmosphere (especially our opponents on the night whose sham atmosphere is often lauded by the football media as ‘special’), but they don’t, not really. There are levels, as the phrase goes, and that was top class from the crowd on Monday night.
Beat Leeds on Saturday, and the start to the season will be beginning to take shape.
HWTL
Photo via Andrew Thirwall ([@ajthirlwall](https://x.com/ajthirlwall/status/1864456981232112022/photo/3))