Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score twice as Liverpool snatched a sensational win at Newcastle United, with the visitors bouncing back from a straight red card in the first half for captain Virgil van Dijk.
The Uruguayan came on in the 77th minute before grabbing the limelight with two superb finishes, his first Premier League goals since scoring against Leeds United back in April.
The 24-year-old, who had seemingly fallen down the pecking order among Liverpool’s attacking talents, stole the thunder of Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, who looked set to end his side’s 13-game league run without a win over Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Having picked up an early yellow card, Trent Alexander-Arnold was lucky to stay on the field when he pulled down Gordon, but he gifted Newcastle the opener in the 25th minute when he mis-controlled the ball, allowing Gordon to run onto it and slot it past Alisson Becker.
Van Dijk was sent off just over two minutes later, with referee John Brooks showing him a straight red card for fouling Alexander Isak on the edge of the box, and the VAR backed his on-field decision.
The introduction of Nunez proved a game-changer, however, and he got the equaliser when Sven Botman fluffed his lines, allowing Nunez to rifle the ball across Nick Pope and in at the far post.
With the game heading for a draw, Nunez struck again three minutes into stoppage time with an almost identical second to leave the home fans crestfallen as the visitors, led by coach Klopp, celebrated wildly on the pitch.
Ten-man Liverpool stun Newcastle – latest reaction
06:50 PM BST
Last-minute Liverpool
06:50 PM BST
Alisson, Nunez and Alexander-Arnold speak with Sky Sports
Nunez:
The team did a really good job after we were one less player on the pitch. We work really hard for this moment. It was a great performance from the team.
Alexander-Arnold:
It’s unbelievable to be honest. It’s something very special. We’ve had to do it the hard way. I think we have made it difficult, but out there we dug deep. It’s something for the ages. One of the best performances since the manager has come in.
I think you dig together as a team. It sounds strange, but going down to 10 men makes you tighter and stronger. We spoke at half-time about the belief that we had and what we wanted to do. Everyone that came on was outstanding.
Alisson:
You cannot underestimate Liverpool even in a game like that. When you play as a unit you can do so many things on the pitch. With the quality that you have on the team, you can do so much.
This one is one of a kind.
Today was about passion, today was about believing to the end.
06:39 PM BST
Alisson stepped up today – he made a shedload of saves
06:37 PM BST
Anthony Gordon: it was almost his day
06:33 PM BST
Nunez with the winner here at St James’ Park
06:29 PM BST
Full time: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 2
The final throw of the dice from Newcastle: a free kick in by Trippier. Pope goes up and wins his header – but that’s high and wide.
A staggering finish here. Liverpool didn’t just save the day, they won the day. One goal and one man down at half time and they’ve turned this around. Van Dijk will be delighted after going off a third into this match.
Nunez seizes the day and Liverpool come away from St James’ Park with all three points.
06:24 PM BST
GOAL! Newcastle 1 Liverpool 2 (Nunez, 90+3)
Nunez at the death!!!
Down to 10 men and Nunez seals it. It’s a brilliant pass from Salah in midfield. The left-back and left centre-back get disconnected again and Nunez pounces on it. It’s the same finish as his first. A huge moment for that man.
06:20 PM BST
90 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1
Five minutes of added time to come.
06:20 PM BST
88 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1
Longstaff with an effort, but it’s straight down Alisson’s throat. It follows a curled attempt by Almiron which was blocked by Robertson. Shouts for a handball, but it’s opportunistic.
06:18 PM BST
Nunez celebrates
06:17 PM BST
Newcastle substitution
Sven Botman hobbles off. On comes Matt Targett.
06:14 PM BST
GOAL! Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1 (Nunez, 81)
Nunez gets it right this time.
He’s played through from midfield by Jota, there’s a mistake by Botman who gets himself in a tangle and Nunez capitalises, pouncing on the ball and thumping it past Pope.
The accuracy, the concentration to send the ball past Pope is spot on, slotted into the bottom-left corner.
06:10 PM BST
79 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Jota and Nunez play a little one-two with each other, but the second pass is too far ahead of Jota and it’s mopped up.
It follows a delicious pass from Elliott moments previous, but Nunez doesn’t get the touch right giving the Newcastle defence that split-second to organise themselves.
06:07 PM BST
Double substitution for Liverpool
Jarell Amorin Quansah is on for his Liverpool debut, coming on for Matip.
Nunez replaces Mac Allister.
06:06 PM BST
76 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Almiron drives inside from the right, he’s past Gomez before he curls one in and rattles the post!
06:05 PM BST
75 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Trent lofts one in from the right. Trippier and Jota shoulder-to-shoulder in the box and Jota goes flying. Calls for a penalty, but it was fair game.
06:01 PM BST
Newcastle subs
Off: Isak, Gordon, Tonali.
On: Wilson, Barnes, Longstaff.
06:00 PM BST
69 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Liverpool corner. Robertson’s delivery but it’s headed clear by Joelinton. Corner on the other side. Szoboszlai sends it in, and Botman comes to the rescue. Corner on the right side again. Robertson whips in the next, but it’s headed away by Burn and Newcastle regain their composure. Shouts of “Shoot!” ring around St James’ as the ball comes to Pope on the edge of his D as Alisson is miles off his line.
05:57 PM BST
67 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Jota splits the defence and puts Salah through, one-on-one, but Botman tracks the run perfectly and slides in to snuff out the danger. Liverpool’s best chance yet.
05:56 PM BST
65 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Trippier with a wide free kick from the right.
He flings it into the middle, but it’s flipped wide by Botman.
05:54 PM BST
64 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Gordon drifts away from Trent and Elliott on the left, cutting inside and getting a shot away from the edge of the D. Just wide of Alisson’s left-hand post!
05:53 PM BST
61 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Robertson with a free kick from 40 yards on the left following Isak’s foul. A rare period of Liverpool pressure here, albeit light. Gomez gets his head on it, but it’s well over the crossbar.
05:50 PM BST
59 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Jota and Szoboszlai combine, Jota cutting inside and trying to ground-cross into the box from the inside-left channel, but it’s steered out for a corner.
Szoboszlai takes, but it’s scooped away from danger.
05:49 PM BST
58 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Just 20% possession for Liverpool so far in this half. They’re just waiting for a break at the moment.
05:48 PM BST
A double substitution for Liverpool
Off: Endo, Gakpo.
On: Elliott, Jota.
05:47 PM BST
56 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Tonali steams down the right flank. He passes the ball into the danger area in the Liverpool box, but it’s Matip there first who knocks it behind for a corner.
05:45 PM BST
53 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Guimaraes shrugs off the challenge of Gakpo on the centre-circle, releases Gordon down the left who pulls the trigger but it’s straight at Alisson.
Gordon’s been part of every Newcastle attack so far. Real confidence on display from the former Evertonian.
05:41 PM BST
50 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Trippier goes into the ref’s book with a lunge on Mac Allister near the halfway line as Liverpool try to spring out on the counter-attack.
05:40 PM BST
49 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Joelinton squares to Almiron from the inside-left. Almiron is completely unmarked, but he leans back and skies it. He’s got to be doing better than that from 10 yards.
05:38 PM BST
47 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Trent pokes a long-free kick into the Newcastle box. Matip goes shoulder-to-shoulder with Trippier on the inside-right channel and blocks the Liverpool man. Newcastle goal kick.
05:37 PM BST
46 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Gordon gets past Trent and manages to whip one square in the Liverpool box. Matip is first to it, but a strong start for the hosts.
Gordon goes again, gets past Trent and clips it to Isak who gets a foot out, but it’s pounced on by Alisson.
05:35 PM BST
Second half
Begins. Newcastle get us back underway.
05:28 PM BST
Opta stat
05:27 PM BST
Van Dijk’s anger
05:26 PM BST
Half-time thoughts from Jason Burt
Jurgen Klopp ran straight down the tunnel at half-time. Huge amount of work for Liverpool to do. That was an ugly first-half for them. They will argue that Virgil Van Dijk should not have been red-carded for his challenge on Alexander Isak but by the letter of the law it is a sending off. Before that Trent Alexander Arnold, who was hugely at fault for Newcastle’s goal, was lucky not be sent off. Game has been too quick for Liverpool’s new midfield signing Wataru Endo.
It’s been an explosive, intense, quick game so far. A real rivalry emerging between these two. Can 10-men Liverpool find a way back?
05:22 PM BST
Half-time: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
A tempestuous first half at St James’ Park. Uncomfortable for Alexander-Arnold early doors who went close to picking up a second yellow within six minutes. His mistake, a poor touch from Salah’s back pass allowed Gordon in to slot past Alisson.
And then it was his defensive colleague Van Dijk who saw red two minutes later for swiping through Isak, last man.
Newcastle one goal and one man to the good at the break.
05:18 PM BST
45+3 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Tonali has his ankle tapped – Gomez the offender this time. Newcastle free kick from halfway line, right side.
05:17 PM BST
45+2 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Gakpo wins the ball back on the edge of the final third and is tripped by Tonali to win Liverpool another free kick, 35 yards out, left-of-centre, Robertson to take.
Flicked in by Robertson towards Gomez in the box, Joelinton steers it out.
05:16 PM BST
44 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Szoboszlai takes the free kick, aiming for the top-right corner, but it doesn’t dip enough. Pope goal kick.
Four minutes of added time to come.
05:15 PM BST
44 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Mac Allister twists and turns past Almiron, but then has his shirt pulled. Liverpool free kick, central, 35 yards out.
05:13 PM BST
42 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Liverpool resorting to passing it around the back as all routes forward remain blocked. Alisson eventually hoofs forward towards Salah… but he’s offside.
05:07 PM BST
35 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Some touch from Almiron, on his chest, and he rifles it on the volley into the top-right corner, but Alisson jumps quickly to push the ball onto the crossbar and then flap it out. Great effort – and an even better save.
05:03 PM BST
On goes Joe Gomez
He’s on for Luis Diaz. He suffers the disappointment of being a sacrifice after Van Dijk’s sending off.
05:02 PM BST
30 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0
Newcastle free kick from 20 yards. Left side of D.
Schar takes, into the wall. Tonali gets to the rebound, which ricochets off out for a corner. Gomez is warming up.
Trippier with a deep corner, Burn round the back, but Alisson clutches.
04:59 PM BST
RED CARD! Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0 (Van Dijk, 27)
Off goes Van Dijk! He kicks through Isak to get the ball, last man as it’s played through by Gordon. There’s a Var check, but it only confirms the decision.
04:57 PM BST
GOAL! Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0 (Gordon, 25)
Gordon for Newcastle!
Trent get the ball played into him from Salah, but he lets the ball run under him to his left. Gordon is straight on him and capitalises on the mistake, pouncing on the ball and going one-on-one with Alisson, slotting it under the Liverpool keeper. Newcastle are gifted and advantage.
04:55 PM BST
23 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Gakpo receives from Szoboszlai in midfield and has space to turn to launch an attack. He distributes to Salah on his right, who shapes open his body to try to curl one in from the right side of the box. Easy save for Pope in the end.
04:52 PM BST
An intense rivalry emerging between these two
04:50 PM BST
19 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Too much on Schar’s ball down the right channel for Trippier – but the England right-back enjoyed the thought, giving his team-mate the big thumbs up.
04:48 PM BST
17 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Diaz drives clear from Trippier, cutting inside from the outside-right channel. He weaves into the box and toe-pokes from wide, saved by Pope.
Robertson with an out-swinging corner which is headed out.
04:46 PM BST
15 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Gordon skips inside and lets rip from just outside the D. It takes a deflection and is easily gathered by Alisson.
04:43 PM BST
12 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Trippier with the Newcastle free kick from 40 yards following Mac Allister’s foul. It’s pinged up towards Burn at the far stick, but it’s hefted away by Diaz.
04:42 PM BST
This in from Jason Burt at St James’ Park
It has all kicked off in the technical areas with Jurgen Klopp furious that Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall has jumped up to join Eddie Howe demanding a red card for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool full-back obstructed Anthony Gordon soon after being booked for kicking the ball away. Klopp has marched over to fourth official Craig Pawson telling Tindall to sit down. There is history between the two benches – definitely one to watch.
04:40 PM BST
9 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Robertson flings in the corner from the right. Pope again flaps at it and Salah goes chasing it down the byline, before going on to foul Trippier. This game is frenzied already. Joe Gomez has been sent out to warm-up. Could Trent come off?
04:38 PM BST
6 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Trent’s just shoulder-barged Gordon recklessly and he’s a lucky man to remain on the pitch. One more and he’s done.
04:36 PM BST
5 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Needless booking for Trent. He’s nudged by Gordon and is sent flying, and then throws the ball away.
04:35 PM BST
4 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Tonali skips past Mac Allister in midfield and tries to find Almiron down the right channel, but Robertson is there to mop up.
04:32 PM BST
1 min: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0
Alexander-Arnold delivers the corner in from the right. Pope comes flying out and fails to get a hand to it. Fortunately for him, Matip’s header is skied.
04:31 PM BST
Kick off!
Liverpool get us underway and win an early corner.
John Brooks officiates this afternoon.
04:30 PM BST
Gareth Southgate is in attendance this afternoon
He was at Old Trafford yesterday.
04:27 PM BST
Out come the teams; a reminder of the line-ups this afternoon
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
Subs: Dubravka, Lascelles, Wilson, Targett, Barnes, Livramento, Murphy, Anderson, Longstaff.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Endo, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.
Subs: Gomez, Nunez, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Bajcetic, Doak, Kelleher, Quansah.
04:26 PM BST
Klopp looks on
04:23 PM BST
Eyes on Sandro Tonali this afternoon
Eddie Howe was full of praise for his new signing after an eye-catching, goal-scoring debut from the Italian against Aston Villa two weeks ago.
04:18 PM BST
Eddie Howe speaks with Sky Sports
I think we commit to the performance. We commit in every way and we hope we can deliver that again today.
I think there’s an expectation from all of us to try to perform at our best levels.
We respect Liverpool, we know how tough the games are. We hope we can come out on top in this one.
Trent’s an outstanding footballer and he can really create from that central area.
04:11 PM BST
Liverpool warming up
04:07 PM BST
Fancy a flutter?
Having a bet on today’s match? First take a look at these free bets and betting offers.
03:51 PM BST
Liverpool arrive
03:49 PM BST
Here he is
Liverpool issue hands-off warning on Mohamed Salah as Al-Ittihad weigh up bid.
03:47 PM BST
Jurgen Klopp: Mo Salah case shows Fifa needs blanket transfer window to protect us from Saudi Arabia
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp says the prospect of Saudi clubs prolonging their push to sign Mohamed Salah beyond the European transfer window underlines why Fifa must take immediate action to unify the rules across the world.
Klopp reiterated his club’s stance that Liverpool are not prepared to entertain any move for Salah after a choreographed Saudi campaign over the last 24 hours advertised that an extraordinary bid is imminent.
The Saudis want to position themselves at the top of the financial football pyramid – using their vast resources to disrupt the traditional superpowers – and a deal for Salah would be their biggest coup yet.
Read on here.
03:42 PM BST
Fans arrive for the 4.30pm kick-off at St James’ Park
03:40 PM BST
Wataru Endo makes his first Premier League start for Liverpool
03:36 PM BST
Team news: Newcastle unchanged; two changes for Liverpool
Diogo Jota is benched by Jurgen Klopp as he makes two changes to the Liverpool side that beat Bournemouth last weekend: Wataru Endo and Joel Matip come into the starting XI.
Ibrahima Konate is out with a muscle problem.
03:33 PM BST
Team news: Liverpool’s starting XI
03:33 PM BST
Team news: Newcastle’s starting XI
03:24 PM BST
Teams in under 10
Here’s what we know so far:
Joe Willock, Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo are unavailable for Newcastle, but Joelinton is set to be fit despite appearing to suffer an injury against Manchester City last weekend.
Liverpool have received a boost with the rescinding of Alexis Mac Allister’s red card. Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be fit, but Ibrahima Konate is a doubt with a muscular issue and they remain without Curtis Jones and Thiago Alcantara.
03:20 PM BST
Showers expected on Tyneside this afternoon
02:54 PM BST
Dominik Szoboszlai expects a Liverpool title charge
by Chris Bascombe
Liverpool new boy Dominik Szoboszlai has assumed the role of noisy neighbour to his close friend Erling Haaland, warning the Manchester City striker ‘we’re coming for your title’.
Szoboszlai and Haaland formed a bond during their time at RB Salzburg, with the Hungary skipper buying a house near Manchester, two doors down from the Norway striker.
But their respect off the field will be an intensive rivalry on it, with the £60 million signing unhesitant when asked who will finish higher in the Premier League.
“Us,” he said of Liverpool.
“I always think that way. Even if this is hard and there are very good teams in the Premier League, we are also very good. We have a very good coach and players. We are going to do our best and at the end I want to be first.
“I am this type. I like to win. I like to do everything for the team. If they ask me if I want to win the Premier League, of course I want to win it. If I want to win the Europa League and the FA Cup, the same. Everything we can do this year. I want to win everything because nobody is going to ask you how it feels to be second.”
Asked if it might be too soon for Klopp’s Liverpool to mount a serious title challenge, especially as City have signed another ex-team mate Josko Gvardiol, Szoboszlai said: “We will see. We have a lot of games. They (City mainly) have a lot of games and we have to play against them as well. I think everybody in the Premier League who has a chance to win, they are going to want to win. We are thinking the same. The other guys (Haaland and Gvardiol) are going to think the same if you ask them.
“He (Haaland) is my really good friend but I don’t really care about that for these 95 or 100 minutes. He doesn’t care as well, probably. This is normal. I am looking for myself and my team-mates to help and if I am going to score a last-minute goal I am even happier.
“I played with Haaland at Salzburg, with Christo Nkunku in Leipzig and Josko Gvardiol, I am also really close with him. Of course they are still my friends but still for this 90, 95 minutes they will not be my friends.”
Szoboszlai admits Haaland’s success at City has inspired him to reach similar heights.
“Yeah, he came here and showed himself, scoring over 50 goals in a season. I knew he was going to do it because I knew his quality,” he said.
“What he did last year he is probably going to continue. But I am looking to continue for my team. We are friends but I am looking for myself.
“He is probably two houses next to me. He knows my family, I know his family a little bit. We speak about how they are, how he is. Everyday stuff, not the football, a little bit outside. But of course football (talk) is coming as well.”
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