Back at St James Park Newcastle take on a Liverpool side fresh from a 1-1 draw at home to West Brom. Martin Dubravka is back but only makes the bench as Karl Darlow continues in goal. Bruce has gone with a 5-4-1 formation for the second time in a row with Yedlin keeping his place on the right wing and Matt Ritchie likewise on the left. The trio in the centre are Schar, Clark and Captain Fernandez. Murphy maintains the partnership in front of Yedlin, in the absence of Allan Saint-Maximin who is still recovering from Covid-19. Joelinton moves to the left of midfield from his frontman role versus Manchester City. Hayden and Matty Longstaff make up the centre midfield whilst Callum Wilson starts back after his absence from the Etihad.
Three minutes into the game and Yedlin lays Callum Wilson off down the right, Wilson managed to get away from Fabinho for a shot at a tight angle but it was tipped around the corner by Alison. Six minutes later Liverpool had two corners, the first was played in by Alexander-Arnold towards Fabinho but Clark gets in front to head it out for a corner. The second ball comes in but it fails to beat Fernandez at the near post and Ritchie clears it away.
Thirteen minutes in Matty Longstaff played Wilson through, Wilson used his strength to keep off the six foot three Nathaniel Phillips, to get in on goal, Wilson took the shot but Fabinho got there to make the block. Then in the 14th minute Milner had a shot on his left to drive the shot into the hands of Darlow.
Just after the half hour mark Darlow made a fantastic save when Milner played the ball through to Salah who got into the box, Salah tried to finesse the ball in to the corner but Darlow spread himself well and got a glove on it. Just before halftime Murphy had a similar shot with a similar out come to Milners in the 14th minute. Tame shot on the left foot into the hands of the goalkeeper. Then as the first half drew to a close Firmino forced another good save from Darlow when Mane broke down the wing and pinged the ball on to the head of Firmino for Darlow to parry the header away. Half time 0-0.
Fifty four minutes in it looked like Mane put the reds ahead when Alexander-Arnold crossed the ball in and Mane got the header that beat the keeper but thankfully it hit the side netting. Liverpool were looking threatening when in the 67th minute when Firmino got away from a couple of Toon Players and laid it off to Salah who shifted the ball onto his favoured left foot and curled the ball wide. Well wide of the mark in fact.
In the 68th minute both teams brought on their first substitutions. Newcastle brought on Almiron for Murphy, and Liverpool's substitution saw the return of Gini Wijnaldum who came on for Curtis Jones. After the subs Liverpool had a corner, Robertson took the corner whipping it over Darlow who came and missed the ball. Firmino with a free header knocked the ball wide.
The best chance for Newcastle came in the 78th minute when Ritchie crossed in a free kick that found Clarks head forcing a great save from Alison. Liverpool countered and put the ball into box. Darlow came for the ball and punched it onto the thigh of Mane, with the ball drifting goalwards and Salah approaching for the tap in Fabian Schar came out of nowhere to clear the ball off the line.
In the 86th minute Liverpool came close again when Darlow made a brilliant save from a good header by Firmino. Darlow dived to make the save and Yedlin hit the ball into the air just high enough for Darlow to get to his feet to run and punch the ball clear. The rest of the game was attack versus defense and in stoppage time Miguel Almiron won the ball, won a throwing only for the full time whistle to blow.
Final score Newcastle United 0-0 Liverpool.
This was a fantastic result against the Champions of England, Former Champions of Europe and the current World Champions. We were fully expected to receive a hammering again tonight but we shut up shop and built a brick wall in front of Liverpool. Karl Darlow was the deserved winner of the Man of the match award but I think DeAndre Yedlin deserves a special mention today. The United States International worked his socks off keeping Sadio Mane at bay and made some brilliant last ditch tackles. The whole defense were fantastic.
By Sam West
Howay the Lads.
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