Liverpool vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
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Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a spectacular goal as the Reds bounced back from the loss of three players to suspected positive COVID-19 tests to beat Newcastle United 3-1 in their Premier League clash at Anfield on Thursday.
Liverpool move onto 40 points from 17 games, one behind leaders Manchester City who beat Leeds United 7-0 on Tuesday.
With Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones all ruled out for the hosts, Jonjo Shelvey struck the opener for Newcastle against the run of play in the seventh minute, with a swerving, dipping drive past unsighted goalkeeper Allison Becker.
The lead lasted 14 minutes before Diogo Jota fired home the rebound after Martin Dubravka saved his initial header to level, with Newcastle’s players complaining the ball should have been put out of play as Isaac Hayden was down injured in his own box.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead four minutes later and Alexander-Arnold got the third with an 87th-minute rocket to wrap up a win that leaves Newcastle second-bottom on 10 points.
Eddie Howe speaks to BT Sport
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was unhappy with the decision to play on after two of his players went down injured following a corner. The next move resulted in Diogo Jota’s equaliser and Howe told BT Sport how he felt about the incident. He said:
In my opinion the game should have been stopped before their equaliser with two players down. Two players down in the box and it had a huge bearing on our game plan.
“As soon as they score the crowd are in the game and it feels unjust. The referee said he thought he was holding his back but Isaac Hayden held his head, he was dazed for four or five minutes. It could be dangerous and we have to think of the players safety, you also don’t want to see games decided when you have players out of the game.”
Reaction from Trent Alexander-Arnold
A grinning and clearly happy Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke to BT Sport after the game and gave his reaction to Liverpool’s win and his own brilliant goal. He said:
We limited them to little chances. We knew we’d dominate possession and they’d make it hard for us. It was always going to be a difficult one. The early goal made it harder.
“Three points at this time of the season is vitally important.
“I’ve been waiting for that [type of goal] for five years. I’ve had a few ones from the edge of box and dragged them. I’ve caught that one sweet and it nestled in the top corner, a sweet strike and put the game to bed.
“It’s mad. He’s [Mo Salah] the best player in the world, it goes without saying. He’s doing everything game in, game out. He wants to break every record in the book. He wants to put his name in the history books.
“You don’t want the teams around you doing well but the focus is on us. It’s about making sure we’re consistent and winning every game we can.
“The games come thick and fast so any minor slip can prove costly come April or May. Until we’re told otherwise we’ll be in there every day [training] and making sure we’re fit for Sunday, a big game against Tottenham.”
Liverpool vs Newcastle result: Trent Alexander-Arnold stunner seals win to stay on City’s tail
A Covid-enforced pause may surround them, but there was no ceasing Liverpool’s title challenge. Newcastle came, showed some fight and were conquered, slipping further into relegation worry - albeit with shoots of resistance to cling to.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s divine strike in the dying moments on Thursday night ribboned a triumph aided by Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.
At Anfield then, was the rarity this week: a Premier League game that went ahead amid rising Covid cases and a queue of postponements.
Trent Alexander-Arnold stunner seals Liverpool win to stay on City’s tail
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle United: Jonjo Shelvey’s early goal stunned Anfield but the Reds roared back to stay one point behind leaders Manchester City
Liverpool 3 - 1 Newcastle
Liverpool remain second in the table and move back to within one point of Manchester City who are top. Chelsea are third but a 1-1 draw with Everton means they’ve fallen points behind the leaders and three away from Liverpool.
Newcastle meanwhile are languishing in 19th. They’re three points from safety but Burnley (18th) have two games in hand on them and Watford (17th) have one.
Liverpool 3 - 1 Newcastle
Liverpool have now won 2,000 top-flight games, the first club to reach the milestone in English football league history.
Full-time: Liverpool 3 - 1 Newcastle
90+4 mins: Mike Dean blows the final whistle and Liverpool claim the points. They’ve come from behind to beat Newcastle at Anfield and move back within one point of Manchester City.
Jonjo Shelvey gave the Newcastle fans a bit of hope with the opening goal but Diogo Jota, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold all scored for the Reds to quickly erode those hopes.
Liverpool 3 - 1 Newcastle
90+2 mins: Liverpool aren’t finished yet. They attack down the left and cut into the box. Mane is waiting in the middle and receives the ball. He shoots but has his effort blocked. The ball bounces over to the right side of the box and Alexander-Arnold gathers it for the Reds.
Liverpool 3 - 1 Newcastle
90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play at Anfield.
GOAL! Liverpool 3 - 1 Newcastle (Alexander-Arnold, 87’)⚽️
87 mins: That is jaw-droppingly good! Hayden fouls Firmino and goes in the book. Liverpool take the free kick quickly and lay the ball off to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the inside left. He’s about 20 yards or so out from goal, maybe a touch further, as he runs onto the ball and drills an absolute rocket at goal. Dubravka jumps across to stop it but there’s too much power behind the shot and it smashes into the back of the net!
Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle
84 mins: Jota sends a short pass to Mane outside the box and he completely misses the ball as he goes to shoot from range. Liverpool work the ball to Keita who makes a better effort of it and blasts a long range effort straight into the hands of Dubravka.
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