Newcastle United 2-3 Liverpool: 6 Men who won the game for Liverpool

Liverpool travelled to Saint James' Park on Saturday evening to face a buoyant Newcastle side managed by a former Liverpool Manager. The Magpies had responded well to Rafa Benitez's tactics and had managed to steer clear of the relegation battle. There wasn't much for them to fight for apart from pride and this made them extremely dangerous.

Jurgen Klopp's side, on the other hand, had to bounce back quickly from a demoralizing midweek defeat at the hands of Lionel Messi's Barcelona. Liverpool needed to quickly shift their attention to the Premier League title chase and there was no room for errors now. The German Manager knew this very well and named his team accordingly.

He started with Alisson at goal, with Robertson, van Dijk, Lovren and Alexander-Arnold making up the back four. In the midfield, he opted for Wijnaldum and Henderson on either side of Fabinho. There was an interesting change in the front three as Sturridge partnered Mane and Salah in the attack.

Liverpool started the game very well and even took the lead in the 13th minute through van Dijk. But Newcastle rallied for the equalizer and scored through Atsu in the 20th minute. The away side took the lead again in the 28th minute, through Mohamed Salah, but Newcastle were back in the game in the 54th minute, through a Rondon equalizer. However, Origi scored the winner in the 86th minute and helped Liverpool go to the top of the table with one game left in the season.

Jurgen Klopp should be delighted with the spirit shown by his team, but he will be thanking these 6 men who were brilliant on the night and helped Liverpool win the game.

#6 Trent Alexander-Arnold

Newcastle United v Liverpool FC - Premier League

It was from the English Right Back’s corner that Liverpool took the lead in the 13th minute, but Alexander-Arnold had a mixed start to the game. The right-back was often caught out of position when Newcastle piled bodies forward. The Englishman was also guilty of being out of position for the Newcastle attack that led to the goal. He did initially try to redeem himself by clearing Rondon’s initial shot off the line, but Atsu scored all the same. Replays suggested that Alexander-Arnold might have used his hand, so he was lucky that the referee played the advantage, which helped him escape a direct red card.

Alexander-Arnold did go on to finally redeem himself, by sending in the brilliant cross that Salah scored from, thus helping Liverpool take the lead for the second time in the game. Even though he was not his usual self at the back, the Englishman helped Liverpool win the game by setting up two goals.

#5 Sadio Mane

The Senegalese was lively as ever in the field but had far more responsibilities in the absence of Roberto Firmino. With the Brazilian suspended and Sturridge starting in his place, Mane had to modify his style of play to ensure Liverpool still had the same amount of intensity on the field. And the Senegalese managed to do exactly that, even though he failed to score.

Mane started from his usual position on the left but drifted across the front three regularly. His speed and trickery was a menace for the home defense, and the Senegalese often ran past the Newcastle defenders to put the entire team under pressure. Mane combined well with Sturridge and was also crucial for Liverpool’s wingplay. His relentless pressing and tracking back helped Liverpool pile the pressure on the home team and Mane also dropped deep to help out his defenders during Newcastle counters.

The Senegalese contributed as a part of the team, even though he failed to find the back of the net, and helped his team win the game.

#4 Andrew Robertson

The Scottish Left back has been one of the best fullbacks in the world this season. Robertson has been effective in both ends of the park this season and he has been a vital cog in Klopp’s tactics as they piled the pressure on Manchester City. Against Newcastle too, the left-back was in his brilliant best.

Robertson bossed the left side of the field and dealt with the threat of Perez with admirable efficiency on most occasions. He also made a string of crucial clearances to keep the away side in the game. Robertson ensured that Liverpool were rarely caught out on the Newcastle counter attacks, but he did not hold back whenever Liverpool went out to attack.

The left-back was out of his ranks in a flask and never needed any invitation to bomb forward. Robertson combined well with Mane and sent in one brilliant cross after another all night. He was full of running and was always available for the ball. He even aimed good long balls to unleash his forwards during counters.

Stellar at the back and full of running up front, the left-back was vital for Liverpool on the night and helped them win the game.

#3 Mohamed Salah

The Egyptian did not have the usual impact on the game and often seemed to miss Roberto Firmino’s cleverness in the final third. However, Salah toiled hard and continued to strive against a rugged Newcastle side who gave him very little room to churn up his magic. However, Salah needed just one chance to show the world why he is leading the Golden Boot race once again this season and it came in the 28th minute.

Trent Alexander-Arnold sent in a glorious ball from the right and Salah drifted in between the Newcastle defenders to arrive at the path of the cross. He knew that he could not afford a touch, he knew that the opposition would be on his case in a flash if he came them the chance. Salah showed his expertise in that moment and struck the ball brilliantly with his weaker right foot, to send it beyond the keeper and into the back of the net.

Even though Liverpool did go on to surrender the lead, abet temporarily, it was a defining moment of the game that instilled the belief in the team that they could go all the way. Sadly, Salah picked up an injury and had to leave the game in the 74th minute.

#2 Virgil van Dijk

Fresh from being crowned the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year, this should have been just another game for the Dutchman. However, the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Barcelona in midweek appeared to be a reality check for the Dutchman. But there were no doubts that he could recover in time to help Liverpool resume their title chase.

Van Dijk gave his team the perfect start in the 13th minute. After Liverpool had won a corner, the Dutchman walked up to the box to try and pile the pressure on the home team. As Alexandar-Arnold sent in the ball, van Dijk beat his marker and went clear on goal. He beat Dubravka with a expertly taken header and gave Liverpool the lead.

From then on, it was an end to end affair, as van Dijk failed to help his team secure a clean sheet and Liverpool conceded the lead twice. However, after Liverpool’s third goal, the Dutchman kept his cool and helped Liverpool cross the line.

#1 Divock Origi

With the game still at 2-2, Jurgen Klopp made a very important decision that would change the course of the game. Sturridge had been extremely poor with his finishing and rarely showed the desire that has now become the hallmark of Klopp’s Liverpool team.

The Englishman was slack, slow and clearly lacked the industry that Klopp demanded. As a result, the Liverpool manager was regularly seen shouting at Sturridge, demanding more work ethics from his striker. Klopp knew he needed more from his striker if he had to win the game.

In the 73rd minute, when Salah had picked up a head injury, Liverpool needed a change, so Klopp brought in Origi in place of the injured Egyptian. And the youngster rose the highest from a Shaqiri cross to score the winner in the 86th minute. It was the most decisive moment of the game and the Belgian helped his team stay in track for the Premier League title as of now.

Edited by Sujith M