SAME FOLD STORY FOR KLOPP
Create bucketload of chances, take lead, fail to win
NO WONDER Jurgen Klopp was annoyed.
His sarcastic outburst – “is that the first game you’ve ever seen?” – when asked whether the result was fair revealed more than any amount of postmatch analysis.
It is now just one win in seven games in all competitions for Liverpool and their title ambitions already look shot after a disappointing start to the campaign.
It was easy to understand why Klopp was upset afterwards because Liverpool went ahead, had enough chances to win comfortably, and yet shot themselves in the foot. Again. Philippe Coutinho was outstanding in the first half and scored a world-class opening goal that seemed the platform for an easy win. But Liverpool defender Joel Matip’s clumsiness gifted an equaliser to Joselu and then Newcastle dug deep in the second half to win a hardearned point.
It was tough luck on Liverpool but they have only themselves to blame.
Come the final whistle, Newcastle’s fans gave their team a standing ovation while many of the travelling supporters had already gone.
That was as telling as the 74th-minute substitutions as Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez brought on a holding midfielder while Klopp threw on two strikers. They were like-for-like replacements but it showed the mindset of the managers.
Klopp is hell-for-leather, desperate to go for all three points. Benitez the pragmatist, cheered by both sets of fans, played it safe by going for a point.
The expectation levels are
very different now but Benitez won trophies during his time at Liverpool while Klopp knows he will face difficult questions if the Reds finish the season empty-handed.
And the problem is that it is hard to see them winning silverware playing like this.
They are fabulous to watch going forward.
The front line of Daniel Sturridge, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah looked ready to tear Newcastle apart, with Coutinho prompting from midfield.
Coutinho’s 23rdminute corner found Georginio Wijnaldum and his shot hit the post, Dejan Lovren saw his shot blocked on the line, and Mane then fired wide at the back post. It was only a temporary let-off for Newcastle because, within four minutes, Liverpool were ahead. A poor clearance fell to Coutinho, who jinked inside and curled a brilliant 20yard shot past keeper Rob Elliot.
But just when you thought Liverpool would run away with it, Newcastle levelled thanks to more crazy Kop defending.
Liverpool have kept just two clean sheets all season, scored 22 goals but conceded 20, so you can see what’s going wrong.
Jonjo Shelvey’s through-ball released Joselu, who looked to have a clear run on goal. Matip made ground to get in a challenge but, in trying to clear, he struck the ball against the Spaniard’s shin and it bounced past Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal.
It was an equaliser as bizarre as the opener was beautiful.
Newcastle were better after the break but Sturridge and Salah both wasted chances to restore Liverpool’s lead
Liverpool substitute Dominic Solanke’s 84th-minute header grazed the outside of a post before fellow sub Alex OxladeChamberlain headed over the bar from close range with three minutes left.
A draw was hard enough for Klopp to take. A defeat would have sent him over the edge. But Liverpool are already seven points off the top and have a lot of ground to make up.