Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo scored as Liverpool closed the gap in fourth to six points with a 2-0 win over 10-man Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday night football.
Liverpool fell behind the hosts early on but quickly went 2-0 up with goals from Nunez and Gakpo, before Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was sent off for denying a goal chance with one hand outside his area. The England international will now miss next Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Undeterred by going down, Newcastle continued to look the more dangerous as Alisson kept out Alan Saint-Maximin’s left-footed strike with some help from the post before Dan Byrne and Fabian Sarr missed golden opportunities with headers from set pieces phases. either side of the break.
Liverpool now have the double over Newcastle this season – and remain the only team to have beaten them in the Premier League this season – as they move up to eighth. The Magpies, meanwhile, are now on a three-match winless run ahead of a huge game at Wembley against Man Utd.
How Liverpool managed to beat Newcastle again
Liverpool were second best in the opening exchanges as Alisson denied Miguel Almiron with a big hand as the visitors struggled to cope with Newcastle’s intensity. But it was the Reds who took the lead when Trent Alexander-Arnold picked out a wide-open Nunez behind the Magpies defence, before he converted emphatically after 10 minutes to silence a raucous St James’ Park crowd.
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Darwin Nunez also gives Liverpool an early lead against Newcastle.
Newcastle continued to look the more likely, but it was Liverpool who struck. Gakpo connected with Mo Salah’s sumptuous pass past Pope to make it two goals in two with six games to go since his January move from PSV.
The game unraveled for Newcastle after that as Pope was sent off for a deliberate handball to deny Salah a goal-scoring chance, becoming the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to concede twice and be red-carded in 22 minutes.
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Gakpo scores Liverpool’s second goal of the game with a superb touch and finish.
Newcastle refused to give up as Saint-Maximin ran Liverpool defenders ragged before seeing a left-footed effort hit the post by Alisson after half an hour. Byrne then hit the post with a header just before the break with a chance he probably should have scored from.
The Magpies were still on top in the second half as Saint-Maximin dragged the team forward with a superb individual performance before Fabian Schar missed a free header from a corner, sending his effort wide of the post as Liverpool shows weak in set phases. .
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Nick Pope is sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area.
Nunez tested Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka with a low effort that went wide before going off with a shoulder injury. Joelinton also took off early with an apparent hamstring strain with Eddie Howe unwilling to take any chances ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wembley.
Diogo Jota was among the Liverpool players to come off the bench and could have scored several times had his finishing been sharper. Newcastle also had a chance to pull one back late on through substitute Callum Wilson on the stroke of half-time but were denied by Liverpool man Alisson.
What’s next?
of Newcastle next game is their meeting with Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final – with the Magpies a game away from lifting their first major trophy in 68 years – on Sunday 26 February, live on Sky Sports; start 4.30 pm
Sunday 26 February 15:00
Start 16:30
Eddie Howe’s side then return to Premier League action in the City of Manchester on Saturday March 4; start 12.30 pm
of Liverpool Attention now turns to the Champions League, with Real Madrid visit Anfield for the first leg of the last 16 tie on Tuesday. starting time 8 p.m.
Jurgen Klopp’s side return to business in the Premier League on Saturday with a trip to Crystal Palacelive Sky Sports; start 19.45.
Saturday, February 25, 7:30 p.m
Start 19:45
