Newcastle United 1 Liverpool 1: Frustration for Reds as Philippe Coutinho magic cancelled out by Joselu

Joselu forces home an equaliser under pressure from Joel Matip
Joselu forces home an equaliser under pressure from Joel Matip Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Familiar faces and familiar failings for Liverpool and another f-word also – frustration. Deep, deep frustration. It was used by manager Jurgen Klopp and captain Jordan Henderson after this draw against a hugely-committed, highly-organised Newcastle side marshalled by Liverpool’s former manager, Rafael Benitez.

Klopp summed it up afterwards when he spoke of how Liverpool had gone ahead with the “goal of the month” (okay, it is only Oct 1 but we all know what he meant) with another superb, trademark Philippe Coutinho curler and then conceded to “one mistake” as Joselu was allowed to run free on the Liverpool goal by some woefully lax defending.

The result means it is just one win in seven in all competitions for Liverpool, with 13 goals conceded, and just one in four in the Premier League, which is hardly the form to take into the international break and with their top four aspirations having suffered a blow. Even though they sit just one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea – and also just two ahead of Newcastle – there are fault lines in this side that need remedying. Next up for them is Manchester United at home which is, actually, probably exactly the fixture they need to try and get things back on track.

“We are having a hard moment,” Klopp said and that frustration was clear as Liverpool also struck the goal-frame and spurned chances – with Daniel Sturridge out-of-sorts – while, eventually, the manager withdrew all three of his attackers as they struggled. That will have given Benitez a moment of satisfaction as he extended his record of unbeaten matches against the club he managed for six years, until 2010, to five.

This is one fixture Benitez will have been desperate not to lose given the opposition, and the timing, and the fact that this was the first visit of one of the league’s big boys since that opening day loss to Tottenham Hotspur. Following this, and despite Newcastle’s obvious limitations, belief will be coursing that they can belong in this league. Home form is the key and it is now seven points from nine at St James’ Park. Momentum is growing.

“We don’t look far away,” Klopp added and that, also, is undoubtedly true but there are those constantly neon-lit warnings signs that however potent and brilliant Liverpool can be going forward they really have to sort themselves out at the back which was so succinctly encapsulated in the seven minutes in which they scored and Newcastle drew level.

First Coutinho’s goal - which followed after the Brazilian collected possession from a looped header of a clearance, turned and shifted the ball onto his right foot. The danger was there but Jonjo Shelvey was slow to close down and Coutinho whipped a wonderful right-foot shot from 25 yards that had goalkeeper Rob Elliot clutching the air as it flew past him and just inside his near post. There has not been a goalless draw between these two sides since 1974, a run of 67 matches and there was never any chance of that sequence being broken.

Not, either, with these Liverpool centre-halves who neglected to mark Joselu - at all - as Shelvey slid the ball between them. The Spaniard was clear on goal but is not the quickest so Joel Matip was able to catch him, and execute at tackle - only for the ball to rebound off Joselu’s left shin and trickle past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and into the net. It was not an own goal but it felt like one. Wonderful one moment; woeful not long after. It summed it up for Liverpool.

But they had chances. Plenty of chances.

They could have gone ahead before they did when former Newcastle midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum darted forward to reach a corner and flick the ball goalwards with it rebounding off the post. Dejan Lovren swiped at it, missed but was then given another chance with his sided-footed shot cleared off the line by Jamaal Lascelles. Even then it fell to Sadio Mane who, from a tight angle, steered the ball wide.

Then there was a strong claim for a penalty as Lovren appeared to be pulled back inside the penalty area from a corner while Lascelles again blocked to deny Sturridge before, in the second-half, there came the kind of incident that Klopp will point to as he argues that Liverpool’s luck is simply not in. Mohamed Salah stabbed the ball forward and Ciaran Clark executed a kind of Sunday league air-shot, missing the ball, the kind of error Liverpool defenders have made, which ran through to Sturridge. With only Elliot to beat the striker snatched at it and the goalkeeper saved. Sturridge had to score.

Lovren shoots against Newcastle
Liverpool were frustrated by a well-drilled Newcastle defence Credit: GETTY IMAGES

That frustration grew. Henderson and Shelvey shoved each other after Joe Gomez caught Christian Atsu with a high boot – referee Craig Pawson cautioned him, after considering a red card – before Liverpool wasted a flurry of headed opportunities from all three of their substitutes. First from Roberto Firmino, then Dominic Solanke and, most glaringly of all, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who sent the ball high over the bar from close-range. Again Klopp held his head.

Would there be one last sting? Maybe so. In injury-time the ball dropped to Newcastle’s own substitute Mohamed Diame but he could not find the power to beat Mignolet who gathered his shot. That would have been brutal on Liverpool if it had gone in but the harsh reality is they have to do better than this.

                                                                                                    

Time on ball (at full time)

Average touch positions (full time)

FULL TIME

A hard-earned draw for Newcastle who deservedly taken a point away from a frustrated Liverpool. 

90 mins +3

Diame wins a corner as he contests the free-kick in the box. Newcastle want to pile forward but Benitez shouts to them to stay back in case of a counter-attack. 

THE BALL DROPS TO DIAME FROM THE CORNER! HE MUST SCORE! But Mignolet catches the shot in the middle of the goal! What an impact that would have been! Klopp is going mental on the sidelines, he is not a happy boy. It's early days still but his team is clearly not in the title race.

90 mins +1

Lovren slides in on Perez wide right - he really didn't have to make that challenge - and Newcastle have a dangerous set piece opportunity. Diame comes on for the final few moments, replacing Perez, who is knackered. 

90 mins

The ball drops to Perez and Mignolet is off his line! What's he doing?! Perez goes for the volley but puts too much on his shot and it bends high and wide of the goal. That would have been something!

And at the other end of the game, Moreno is played in down the left with a long searching ball, keeps it in play and finds Oxlade-Chamberlain at the back post but he heads over.

Atsu has space but makes it too obvious that he wants to around the outside of Gomez, who easily blocks his path to goal.

88 mins

Newcastle are defending really well here. They're so organised - Liverpool can't find a way through them. 

86 mins

Here comes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the final few minutes. Salah comes off as Liverpool have a corner. Coutinho chips one to the near post from wide and Solanke heads at goal but puts it wide. Decent effort. 

Moreno wants a free-kick on the edge of the area but the referee says he goes down too easily under the pressure of Yedlin. Goal kick.

One-way traffic at St. James' Park

It's been all Liverpool, with the visitors racking up 15 shots so far - Newcastle have managed just six in reply.

83 mins

Liverpool win a free-kick as Hayden slides into Wijnaldum about 35 yards from goal but Coutinho's chipped pass is headed straight back. Newcastle are defending in a 4-4-2 shape, just looking to ping balls in behind for the strikers to chase, everyone else is behind the ball.

80 mins

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Dwight Gayle is getting ready on the sidelines. That'll give Newcastle some real pace on the counter-attack - he replaces Joselu, who has disappeared from the game in this half.  

78 mins

Elliot comes off his line to dive and touch away a cross from wide right... and gets away with a not-amazing piece of goalkeeping. Liverpool are nowhere near intense enough in their attack to open up the space they need to score but Firmino has already made a difference, dropping into space between the defence and midfield. 

Atsu defends a pass to Gomez horribly and the right-back steals in to space on the right to cross. Corner. Shelvey heads off the line! And the ball is cleared. Action all over the place!

Time on ball (60 - 75 min)

75 mins

It is Sturridge who comes off for Firmino and Mane who is replaced by Solanke. I'm some sort of genius. 

Newcastle respond by taking Merino off and replacing him with Hayden.

72 mins

Klopp is going for it here. Firmino and Solanke are getting ready to come on, which must mean a change in shape. I'd imagine Sturridge will come off and Mane might be the other, he's not really been in the game.

69 mins

It's probably fair to say that Liverpool haven't been clinical today...

 

68 mins

Salah is dropping into space between defence and midfield and it's really causing problems for Newcastle. He threads Sturridge in behind again but the flag goes up this time. Yedlin takes a sore one while sliding in to block a shot.

Salah's first touch is amazing. The ball is punted high and long to him and he kills it with the inside of his boot and passes forward. I absolutely love that. 

65 mins

What a ball! Sturridge is played in behind the defence but it doesn't quite drop in time for him and the goalie comes out to claim at the edge of his area. Great play from Elliot. 

64 mins

More indecision in the Liverpool penalty area as they defend crosses from wide. That really is their weakness - this time they get away with some questionable defending and Newcastle have possession. 

Salah can't quite reach a switched long pass from the left wing and another Liverpool attack fizzles out.

Time on ball (45 - 60 min)

61 mins

Moreno only has one foot and so doesn't shoot as Liverpool work a smart move towards Newcastle's box, instead choosing to cross and losing possession. Newcastle break and Moreno hacks down Perez... which should be a yellow card but isn't. Shelvey can swing this one into the middle.

58 mins

Perez is booked for kicking the ball away, which is really harsh. Atsu has been wiped out in the air by Gomez there - again with no intent to injure - and the referee has called him over for a word. It's a booking, which seems fair. Gomez' feet are really high... he's jumped to control that in the air above head height and caught Atsu in the face. Hmmm.

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

 

56 mins

Coutinho is now dropping into deeper positions to thread passes forward but Newcastle are able to read them at the moment. Atsu is nearly played in on goal but Matip recovers really well and wins a goal kick, Salah is taken down outside the area and gives away a free-kick in Coutinho territory.

54 mins

Newcastle are dug in to defend in this half. Coutinho has an ambitious shot blocked on the edge of the area. Joselu has gone down screaming in pain on the floor. He's taken a kick to the side of his torso as Mane lands on him. He appears to be fine... but a few seconds ago sounded like he'd genuinely been shot. 

51 mins

Newcastle are defending well, knocking the ball long for Joselu to chase when they clear their lines. Salah has switched to the left now and CLARK HAS MISSED THE BALL! Salah gets his touch all wrong and Clark goes to clear but swings at the air. Sturridge must score! Saved by the goalkeeper. That was a freebie!

 

48 mins

Liverpool are pushed high up the pitch. Sturridge tries to force a pass between the lines of midfield and defence but it's easily cut out and Newcastle can get forward. Joselu does well on the right and Ritchie nearly finds Atsu with a curling cross into the box. Ritchie has it again out right but his low ball is picked up by the defence.

KICK-OFF 2

Liverpool start the second half.

Liverpool players out on the pitch already

Jurgen Klopp has put his players straight back out on the pitch. Newcastle's are still gathered in the tunnel. Mind games? This might be Benitez keeping them waiting to cool Liverpool's jets. 

Photos of the goals

Credit: REUTERS

There aren't any photographs really going around of Coutinho's wonder striker but that's understandable, since few photographers probably expected him to shoot - let alone smash the ball past the goalie - when he picked up the ball.

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

 

Time on ball (first half)

Average touch positions (half time)

HALF TIME

Very organised from Newcastle, a moment of magic from Coutinho and familiar defensive lapses for Liverpool. I have no idea what the second half will be like.

45 mins

Liverpool are working the ball around the Newcastle half, Benitez's team are running down the clock until half time. 

Liverpool defence unworried so far

Newcastle have not been posing a threat in the final third.

43 mins

Liverpool unlucky not to get a penalty as two of their players are pulled to the ground by their shirts at a corner. It's quite heated on the pitch, the play is at a high tempo... it's lovely stuff. 

The shot count is similar

Newcastle and Liverpool are evenly matched in attack so far - the vistors have fired in eight shots to the hosts' five.

40 mins

Ritchie has just gotten away with a horrible tackle on Sturridge. He's not injured him or anything but it was a wild aerial lunge with two feet. The home crowd is LOUD now - the game is alive! Aliiiiiiiiive!

GOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!

What a gift. Shelvey's pass is absolutely phenomenal but that he was so easily able to beat Liverpool's defence (and their woeful offside trap) is another example of how poorly Liverpool defend. Joselu races through the middle, takes way too long to get a shot away and Matip slides in to knock the ball off his shin and into the back of the net.

34 mins

Liverpool have gone up a couple of gears now. Salah is giving Manquillo an absolute nightmare of a time down the Newcastle left - he's way too quick for him.

Time on ball (15 - 30 min)

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!

Out of nothing. What a strike from Coutinho! That has absolutely flown into the back of the net, showing just exactly why Liverpool were happy to turn down all the money in Catalonia for him.

28 mins

This is a decent game. Both teams are looking for ways to the get ball forward, both are comfortable in possession and going up the pitch when they have it.

Most of the action is in midfield at the moment but that'll change as time goes on.

 

25 mins

SCRAMBLE! The corner is curled out from goal and Wijnaldum hits the post with a little volleyed flick. Nobody can hack the ball away, everyone's trying to get a shot in at goal and after a couple of blocked efforts, Mane smashes a shot into the side netting. So close for Liverpool!

23 mins

Matt Ritchie is very one-footed and it becomes a problem when he has his back to the defender. They know exactly which way he's going to go each time but he manages to get a clever inside pass in to Atsu, who whips in a great ball to the area to discover nobody is there to attack it.

 

20 mins

Suddenly the break is on! Salah sprints onto a ball in behind and burns the defenders for pace, they can't get close! He moves inside and a defender comes flying across to block his path to goal. The ball hangs in the air... but Newcastle win possession and the crowd roars them forward.

17 mins

Sturridge darts around the Newcastle penalty area and causes a moment of panic as it looks like he's about to find space for a shot! The defence crowds him out and blocks the shot, Lascelles diving in to prevent the striker open the scoring. Liverpool have opened up and are more into this now.

Time on ball (0 - 15 min)

14 mins

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Perez slides in on Moreno, doesn't really catch him and Moreno howls in pain. Perez laughs, free-kick and no booking. 

12 mins

Great turn by Shelvey in the middle of the park. Liverpool forwards hunt him down but a little Cruyff turn takes Shelvey away from them and Newcastle keep the ball. Shelvey's forward passing has been superb so far.

9 mins

It seems like Liverpool might actually be trying to calm things down early on to cool the crowd down. Newcastle are moving the ball well and attacking them, Liverpool defending deeper than usual. 

Liverpool hit back

Liverpool register their first shot, in response to two so far from Newcastle.

6 mins

Newcastle work the ball forward and Shelvey picks it up 25 yards from goal wide left, moves the ball onto his right foot and tries to bend a shot into the top corner. This time he doesn't get enough on it and the goalkeeper catches easily.

 

3 mins

Newcastle have started brightly. They're not sitting back and trying to stop Liverpool from playing.

KICK-OFF

After a minute's applause for Freddy Shepherd, we're underway at St James'.

Here come the teams

St James' Park is full, as you'd expect, and the players are out to get ready for the game. There's no way this is a 0-0. Surely. 

Managers' pre-match words

Benitez:

"To score goals. If you want to win any game you have to score goals, it's obvious, but if you play against a team who create chances you have to be strong in defence. We have seen some teams this week defend deep deep deep and they lose 1-0. 

"I think [Jonjo Shelvey] was working hard and it was the time to give him an opportunity."

Klopp:

Set the pace, I'm not sure that's always possible, Newcastle are a different team. They have good footballers on the pitch - we need to be ready but I think we are.

It's his time! (On why Sturridge is back)

Klopp inspecting his surroundings

Credit: REUTERS

 

Newcastle and Liverpool united by cult of Rafa

This is a great piece by Luke Edwards on how Liverpool and Newcastle fans share affection for Rafa Benitez.

Tactics

Liverpool are clearly going to be an attacking 4-3-3 with a high press. They don't play in any other way and when it works, they can be devastating. However, there is a proven method for taking the wind out their sails, and that is to sit deep with a low defensive block and force them to work opportunities. Newcastle will get chances from set pieces and on the counter-attack.

The changing rooms

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Photos of Liverpool's changing room always seem to be available and it's pretty cool. This is the away facilities in ST James' Park and it looks far more like a leisure centre than I thought it would. 

Starting lineups

Newcastle

Liverpool

 

Hello

Good afternoon! And welcome to our liveblog for a game which will absolutely definitely be a 4-3 thriller, with goals from Faustino Asprilla, Stan Collymore and David Ginola. Team news should be here in a minute!

Preview

What is it?

It's the Premier League meeting between Newcastle and Liverpool.

When is it?

Sunday Oct 1, 2017.

What time is kick-off?

Referee Craig Pawson will get the match at St James' Park under way at 4.30pm while his glamorous assistants Scott Ledger and Constantine Hatzidakis will run the lines. Bobby Madley will be the fourth official.

What TV channel is it on?

Sky Sports will be broadcasting the match. Alternatively, of course, you can join us right here for our minute-by-minute coverage of the match. Just bookmark this page and come back at around 3.30pm for all the team news, build-up, live commentary and on-the-whistle report.

What is the team news, who is injured and suspended?

Rafael Benítez, the Newcastle United manager, is expected to start with pretty much the same team that lost to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

Paul Dummett and Massadio Haidara will both miss out though injury, though Aleksandar Mitrovic is available again to Benítez having served his three-match ban.

After drawing midweek with Spartak Moscow in their Champions League group game, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is expected to ring in the changes ahead of their trip to St James' Park.

Joe Gomez and Andrew Robertson are expected to step in while goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will return in place of Loris Karius.

Sadio Mané, meanwhile, is free the return after serving his three-match ban and will more than likely lead the Liverpool line. Adam Lallana, Adam Bodgan and Nathaniel Clyne are remain sidelined through injury.

Provisional squad: Mignolet, Gomez, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Robertson, Milner, Grujic, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge, Solanke.

What are they saying?

"The threat we've got going forward, the counter-attacks are frightening at times. If we can just shore up at the back and not concede silly goals and not switch off then we'll be a big force.

"I do believe as a group we can get better defensively and I can be part of that," he added.

"As a group, we have to work together to get better defensively because, if the midfielders can help us and the strikers can help us, then as a team we'll improve." Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson

What does the table look like? 

What are the odds?

  • Newcastle United to win: 7/2
  • Draw: 29/10
  • Liverpool to win: 8/11

What's our prediction?

Newcastle and Liverpool last played out a goalless draw in 1974 and given the attacking power and defensive weakness of Klopp’s side goals can be expected. Newcastle have won their last two home league games and, of course, Benítez will be desperate to make a mark against his former club. Both sides can be expected to go for it. Prediction: 2-3

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