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.
Liverpool 0 - 1 Newcastle
15 mins: For now Newcastle are down to 10-men as Lewis hobbles off down the tunnel and Matt Ritchie prepares to come on. Thiago brings the ball to the edge of the box and squares a pass to Henderson. Alexander-Arnold makes another overlapping run but Henderson pass into the box for him is intercepted by Fraser.
Ritchie then comes on to replace Lewis for Newcastle.
Liverpool 0 - 1 Newcastle
13 mins: Oh no! Jamal Lewis takes on Trent Alexander-Arnold in a race down the Newcastle left wing and pulls up grasping his hamstring. He gives up the chase and sits down with a grimace on his face. He’s going to need to come off.
Liverpool 0 - 1 Newcastle
10 mins: That goal came against the run of play but Newcastle won’t care at all. They’ve got something to hold on to now. Can Liverpool respond?
Joel Matip moves up the pitch and pings a nice ball into the box but Newcastle clear it.
GOAL! Liverpool 0 - 1 Newcastle (Shelvey, 7’)⚽️
7 mins: What a finish! Thiago gives the ball away and Newcastle break on the counter-attack. Saint-Maximin brings the ball into Liverpool’s final third and plays Ryan Fraser in on the left. His cross into the box is cleared as far as Jonjo Shelvey but takes a touch and drills a swerving, curling effort from range. Alisson doesn’t even move as the ball swings away from him and finishes in the bottom left corner!
Liverpool 0 - 0 Newcastle
6 mins: Alexander-Arnold comes inside and attempts to play Andy Robertson in behind but his aerial pass is blocked by Murphy.
Liverpool regain possession and work it out to Salah on the right. He takes on Jamal Lewis and breezes into the box before feeding it through to Jota. He takes control of the ball and spins towards goal, firing off a left-footed shot and drawing low save out of Martin Dubravka!
Liverpool 0 - 0 Newcastle
3 mins: Thiago Alcantara switches the ball out to Mo Salah on the right wing. He brings it down and lays a pass off to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Jordan Henderson comes forward to help out and flicks the ball over the top for the Liverpool right-back who makes an overlapping run and volleys a cross into the box. Sadio Mane keeps it alive and slots Diogo Jota into the box but he loses the ball to Jacob Murphy and Newcastle clear their lines.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Newcastle
Kick off: Both teams take the knee before Newcastle kick off the match at Anfield. Allan Saint-Maximin carries the ball down the Newcastle left wing but runs it out of play and leaves Liverpool with a throw in.
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Here come the teams
Both teams make their way onto the pitch at Anfield. For Liverpool this is a chance to cut Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to just one point.
For Newcastle if they pick up all three points they could draw level with Watford (17th) and take a huge step to avoid relegation.
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Howe on Liverpool
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe spoke at a pre-match press conference yesterday about how his team can cause problems for Liverpool tonight. He said:
It’s a big challenge for us but one that we’re going to look forward to. Liverpool are in outstanding form, their attacking players are certainly linking really well at the moment, but I think we have to learn lessons from the Leicester game.
“We need to get our organisation to the very highest level, because if we don’t Liverpool will find a hole in that. But I believe, the other way, we have players that can hurt them – certainly on transitions I think we are a real threat, so we’ll have our gameplan and we’ll go there ready to perform.”
Liverpool vs Newcastle: Jurgen Klopp calls for more transparency over Covid infections at clubs
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes there should be more transparency when it comes to players testing positive for Covid-19 to avoid questions over the legitimacy of asking for matches to be postponed.
Tottenham and Manchester United both had to call off Premier League games due to outbreaks within the club while Aston Villa went ahead with their fixture at Norwich on Tuesday after two positives among the players.
Klopp, who reported his squad was Covid-free ahead of the visit of Newcastle, believes greater openness would help in the overall decision making.
Jurgen Klopp calls for more transparency over Covid infections at clubs
Tottenham and Manchester United have both had to call off Premier League fixtures due to outbreaks
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