Liverpool FC missed year-end victory

Newcastle United made life very difficult for leader Liverpool, especially in the first quarter of an hour, and in the person of Callum Wilson they would have almost taken the lead. After a positional error by LFC defender Nathaniel Phillips, who had been moved into the starting eleven by the injured Joel Matip, Wilson had a free space left in the penalty area, but was blocked at the last minute by Fabinho. running for a corner (6th).

As a result, the hosts repeatedly put small punctures without radiating the great goal danger. Liverpool’s engine raced for the first time after a choppy start in the 34th minute when captain Jordan Henderson brought starter Mohamed Salah on the scene with a strong pass over the defense. Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darow blocked Liverpool’s lead with a brilliant act against the Egyptian (34th).

Seconds before the half-time whistle, the guests, increasingly powerful at the end of time, again found their teacher in goalkeeper Darlow, who repelled a powerful header from Roberto Firmino to a corner (45 + 1).

After the break, Klopp-Elf kept up the pressure and came in after a corner kick through a header from Sadio Mané for the next good chance (54th). Only Liverpool kept playing, but the Reds missed too much in the final that night.

After some hard preparatory work from Firmino, Salah slipped just past the left gate (66 °), shortly after the Brazilian failed to take advantage of Darlow’s faltering run around a corner and headed just a short distance (68 °).

With the exception of a dangerous header from Ciaran Clark (79th), the deeply defensive home team no longer took the lead and preferred to focus on defending the tie in the final phase.

Liverpool pushed more and more for the lead, but first Fabian Schär with a rescue act inches from the line (81) and a little later the brilliant Darlow with a strong reflex against Firmino’s header (88) saved the flattering tie in rounds.

Fabian Schär (Newcastle United): “The whole team’s performance was brilliant. We showed for 90 minutes that we absolutely wanted the point. In the end, it is a deserved point for us.”

Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool FC): “We created an incredibly good opportunity, but we just didn’t take it. I’m not happy with the result today, but I’m very satisfied with the performance.”

Left-back Andrew Robertson made his 150th competitive appearance for Liverpool against Newcastle.

Although comeback Thiago Alcántara only came into play in the 73rd minute, the Spanish influence was immediately felt on the pitch. From bottom sixth position, the former Bayern pro opened the game over and over again with precise changes or clever passes to the holes. Often this resulted in good chances for the guests, who failed only in the end over themselves or Newcastle’s strong goalkeeper Darlow.

Newcastle United have not lost their last five league games at home to the defending champions (two wins, three draws). The last loss at home against a reigning English champion was in August 2014 in a 2-0 draw against Manchester City.

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