Liverpool faced a thrilling draw against Newcastle at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night, ending the match in a dramatic 3-3 tie.
The home side started strongly, with Jacob Murphy hitting the post early on. Soon after, Alexander Isak put Newcastle in the lead with a powerful strike past Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Caoimhín Kelleher. Despite Kelleher’s efforts to keep the score down by denying Anthony Gordon, Liverpool struggled to find their footing in the first half. Their best chance came from Mohamed Salah, who was unable to control Jarell Quansah’s pass in the box.
The second half saw Liverpool regrouping and leveling the score when Curtis Jones converted a pass from Salah. Isak continued to shine for the Magpies, assisting Gordon for Newcastle’s second goal. However, Liverpool struck back soon after when Trent Alexander-Arnold won the ball back and assisted Salah, bringing the score to 2-2. Salah continued his impressive performance, hitting the bar before scoring to put Liverpool ahead.
Yet, in a heartbreaking turn of events for the Reds, a late free-kick led to a goal from Fabian Schär, capitalizing on a rare error from Kelleher, ultimately sealing the draw in the dying moments of the match.
In terms of positives, Liverpool’s performance improved significantly after halftime, thanks to standout efforts from Salah and Alexander-Arnold, both of whom are approaching the last six months of their contracts. Salah showcased his exceptional skills and determination, netting two goals and providing an assist.
On the downside, Liverpool felt the absence of Ibrahima Konaté, while Kelleher’s late mistake marred an otherwise commendable performance as he had kept the team in the game for much of it.
Manager Arne Slot earned a rating of 7 for his effective substitutions, which played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s resurgence.
Further player ratings highlighted Salah’s brilliance with a perfect score of 10, reflecting his influential impact on the match. Conversely, Kelleher’s error led to a rating of 5, as he will likely reflect on that late mistake.
Looking ahead, while Liverpool will be disappointed not to secure the win, the draw presents a chance for the team to learn and grow from this experience. The collaboration between Alexander-Arnold and Salah hints at a promising connection moving forward as they prepare for their next match against Everton. Their resilience could serve as a catalyst for improved performances in the coming weeks.