Liverpool entertained Newcastle United at Anfield earlier today hoping to continue their 100% winning run in the Premier League this season. The Reds began the match on the front foot but conceded a goal in the 7th minute when Jetro Willems scored with a thunderous finish. However, the home side managed to equalise in the 28th minute via a brilliant finish from Sadio Mane. It was the Senegalese who completed the turnaround for Liverpool just 12 minutes later when he scored again from close range to hand his team a narrow half-time lead.
The second half was more of the same with the Reds dominating possession while the Magpies tried to hit back on the counter. Jurgen Klopp’s men put the game to bed in the 72nd-minute courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s clever finish. The match ended with the European champions claiming a dominant 3-1 win over their Tyneside opponents.
Let’s take a look at how each Liverpool player performed during the contest against the Magpies.
GK: Adrian – 7/10
The Spanish goalie was flawless with his distribution of the ball. He couldn’t do much about Willems’ incredible finish in the first half, which ruined his chances of a clean sheet.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7/10
The English full-back could have done better when trying to defend Willems in the lead-up to the Newcastle opener in the 7th minute. He came back strong and caused a lot of problems for the visitors by whipping in some dangerous crosses from the right flank.
CB: Joel Matip – 8/10
The Cameroonian centre-back managed to neutralise the threat of Joelinton on the counter. It was another impressive display from Matip today.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 8/10
The Dutch defender didn’t put a foot wrong during the game and distributed the ball accurately from his own half.
LB: Andrew Robertson – 8/10
The Scottish full-back was defensively solid and picked out Mane with a clever pass which helped Liverpool equalise in the first half.
CM: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6/10
The English midfielder tried his best to make some driving runs with the ball, but it was not his day. He lost possession quite a few times before being replaced in the second half.
CM: Fabinho – 8/10
The Brazilian midfield ace was an unstoppable force at the centre of the park and won back possession many times for his side.
CM: Georginio Wijnaldum – 7.5/10
The Dutch international was unfortunate not to have scored with his brilliant attempt in the second half. It was another energetic display from Wijnaldum today.
RM: Mohamed Salah – 7.5/10
The Egyptian winger was quiet in the first half but put in a much better performance in the second. Salah took his goal well in the 72nd minute to kill the game off.
LM: Divock Origi – 6/10
The Belgian forward was not afraid to take on his marker down the wide areas but suffered an unfortunate injury in the first half.
ST: Sadio Mane – 9/10
The Senegalese speedster scored with a fabulous finish to equalise for Liverpool in the first half. He found the back of the net once again five minutes before half-time with a scrappy goal from close range.
Substitutes:
ST: Roberto Firmino – 8.5/10
The Brazilian striker put in a mesmerising display after coming on to replace Origi and has an assist to show for his efforts. He was full of tricks which made him a constant menace for the Magpies defenders.
CM: James Milner – 6/10
He added some fresh legs in midfield and retained the ball well for his team.
CAM: Xherdan Shaqiri – N/A
The Swiss sensation did not have enough time to make an impact on the field.
