Klopp’s men miss bus again
ONE of the many reasons to warm to Jurgen Klopp is that the Liverpool manager continually refuses to park the bus even though he persists with a defence that invites their rivals to drive one through the middle of it.
Having been enthralled by the gung-ho tactics espoused by Kevin Keegan and his celebrated entertainers of yesteryear, Tyneside is well accustomed to the swaggering ‘we’ll score one more than you’ approach to the beautiful game. It is clearly still a formula alive and kicking in the red half of Merseyside as Rafa Benitez’s past and present proved inseparable.
While pleasing on the eye, it is of course no manner in which to go about ending the Reds’ 27-year title drought.
But nevertheless it remains fun watching them try, as proved by another strike to add to the goal of the season compilation DVD from Philippe Coutinho, the midfielder’s third in as many games.
It was not enough to secure a victory that would have propelled Liverpool back into the top four, however, as they shipped an 11th goal in four Premier League road trips this season.
That there were only two goals in the end came as something of a surprise.
Benitez’s side had shown signs of vulnerability before Coutinho broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, most notably when former Newcastle midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum volleyed the Brazilian’s corner against the inside of the near post. Dejan Lovren’s follow-up was blocked on the line by Jamaal Lascelles before Sadio Mane sent the rebound wide.
The reprieve was not to last long. Lascelles’ agricultural clearance went up rather than out and when Matt Ritchie’s header proved equally ineffectual, Coutinho ghosted past the recalled Jonjo Shelvey as he cut in from the left to send a stunning 25-yard effort beyond Rob Elliot into the top corner.
The lead lasted only seven minutes, Coutinho’s moment of beauty cancelled out by a runt of a goal.
From Shelvey’s astute pass, Joselu rumbled through on goal at about the same speed as the double decker you could have easily navigated through the gap between Liverpool’s central defenders.
Given the former Stoke forward’s far from impressive goals-to-chances ratio this season, Joel Matip might have been better served allowing the Spaniard through to spurn the chance on his own. But the Cameroon international won a chase on the edge of his area, only to see his sliding tackle cannon the ball off his opponent’s shin to trickle past Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool always looked more likely to secure the contest’s crucial third goal and it almost arrived at the outset of the second half when, not for the first time, Ciaran Clark was found wanting only for the hosts to escape, as Daniel Sturridge saw his shot blocked before Mohammed Salah sent the loose ball looping over.
Ever the optimist in search of the winner, Klopp brought on the attacking flair of Roberto Firmino, Dominic Solanke and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlian. True to type, Benitez went further into his shell, introducing the stolid Isaac Hayden to bolster the protective shield in front of his back four.
Solanke sent a diving header narrowly wide from Coutinho’s teasing cross, as did OxladeChamberlain – Alberto Moreno the line of supply on that occasion.
Ultimately, their search for another goal proved fruitless as their former manager racked up a fifth game unbeaten against his old club since leaving Anfield in 2010. All of which provided plenty of food for thought for Amanda Staveley, the influential financier who was involved in Sheikh Mansour’s takeover at Manchester City nine years
ago. The 44-yearold has an estimated £28billion under her management portfolio from Middle East-based investment groups and is reportedly open to buying a Premier League club, so the businesswoman’s presence at St James’ Park perhaps pointed towards Mike Ashley moving a step nearer to his wish to relinquish ownership, at somewhere in the region of three times the £133million he paid more than a decade ago.
Whether the Sports Direct mogul is able to get anywhere near that remains open to conjecture. Clearly, Newcastle have plenty of selling points, as
Coutinho’s moment of beauty, cancelled out by runt of a goal
another St James’ Park sell-out underlined. However, when it comes to pure box office, Liverpool remain by far the best investment.