Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Newcastle as Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock scored for the Magpies, with Cody Gakpo one of few to impress for Andoni Iraola
Cody Gakpo cekebrates scoring for Liverpool against Newcastle.
Cody Gakpo cekebrates scoring for Liverpool against Newcastle.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
ST JAMES' PARK, NEWCASTLE // In an electric atmosphere, Liverpool did the exact thing that Andoni Iraola would have warned his players against: going a goal behind early on.
Fortunately for Andoni Iraola's side, Dominik Szoboszlai slammed home a late penalty to equalize, but Anthony Elanga had finished well for Newcastle, and the Reds didn't deal with the inevitable early storm. From there, Alexander Isak's presence served only to fire up the home supporters. Indeed, you would have been forgiven for forgetting he was there were it not for the deafening jeers.
It was Cody Gakpo who dragged Liverpool back into the game, scoring with a low drive into the corner. Almost as soon as he had, though, Joe Willock put Newcastle in front again, before another late bit of drama in this fixture.
Winners
Matthias Jaissle can be very pleased with the desire and fight that his players showed. They will need to add more in terms of quality in the final third to really push on, but this was a strong start. For Iraola, there is a big week lying ahead in the transfer market. Injecting something more in attack is vital, as is working out the right balance in the midfield.
Losers
This was not a comfortable outing for Alexander Isak, though he wouldn't have been expecting one. He was booed, he was taunted, and he wasn't really found in many promising positions. He and Florian Wirtz really struggled, in addition to the full-backs.
Harvey Elliott wasn't even selected, which probably isn't a good sign in terms of his future, while Federico Chiesa was missing after being absent from training with a minor injury earlier in the week. The Liverpool bench, as a result, was very limited.
Player ratings
Alisson Becker (6). After interest from Juventus, it was vital that Liverpool kept its number one. His positioning was slightly odd for the opening goal, but he did well with a couple of crosses after that.
Jeremie Frimpong (5). Set for a run in the team at right-back, the position that he was signed to play primarily, he will need to show more than this in an attacking sense. Far too often, he was wasteful. Defensively, he looked a little off the pace.
Jeremy Jacquet (7). Trusted to start from the off after an impressive 45 minutes last weekend, the $83 million (£60 million) defender was in a real battle with Will Osula. Very classy in possession, but there was only so much he could do.
Virgil van Dijk (6). Captaining the team, the center-back was another to be embroiled in an ongoing fight. He came through it but wasn't always as dominant as he can be. Booked for a very late tackle late on.
Milos Kerkez (5). Starting his second season with Liverpool and under the head coach who got the most out of him, he really struggled. Defensively rash and limited in his forward influence.
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Ryan Gravenberch (6). Making his 100th Premier League appearance, he was too often left with far too much to do at the base of the midfield. It is a familiar issue. Having said that, he should simply have made a tactical foul to stop the second goal.
Dominik Szoboszlai (7). Named this week as one of the vice-captains for the season, the Hungarian was full of vigor, but like Gravenberch, there is only so much he can do. The pair, in games like these, need more help. Slammed home the penalty late on.
Rio Ngumoha (6). Playing on the right, which he might fairly often do this term, he was pocketed by the impressive Lewis Hall. His footwork was good at times, but he usually crowded out sooner rather than later.
Florian Wirtz* (5). *Operating very high up as a number 10, the German was making his 50th appearance for the Reds here. He needs to start having much more of an influence than this. Hooked after little more than an hour and unable to leave anything like a mark.
Cody Gakpo (7). Amid transfer interest from Tottenham, the Dutchman was the better of the two wingers who were out there for Liverpool. Scored and looked to drag the team forward, often on his own.
Alexander Isak (5). Returning to St James' Park for the first time since leaving, the $169 million (£125 million) man was jeered loudly at every opportunity. As he arrived, then as he took shots in the warm-up, and then throughout the game.
Substitutes
Alexis Mac Allister (6). Given how open Liverpool looked in midfield, he probably should have started, though benching Wirtz would have been a big call. Did well to get up to speed as much as he did.
Victor Munoz (6). He could have signed for Newcastle in the summer and the crowd let him know what they thought of that. Pacy and direct, but didn't have any time to get his head up.
Ronald Araujo (6). On because Jacquet isn't up to full match sharpness yet, he did well to settle into the game at the back. A fast introduction to the Premier League for him.
Lewis Koumas (6). Thrown on with around 20 minutes to play, the Wales international was a wildcard. He did well and looked lively, but not enough to force an equalizing goal.