Newcastle 2 Liverpool 0
Liverpool failed to take advantage of a number of the Premier League's title contenders slipping up, as they crumbled against a Newcastle side showing rare fight and determination.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The turgid first half was far from a neutral's delight, but Steve McClaren's relegation battlers seemed to draw heart from the fact that they were able to get into the break without having conceded against a Liverpool side who had put six past Southampton in midweek.
The team who took the field on Tyneside were shorn of most of Wednesday's goalscoring talents though, with Daniel Sturridge and hat-trick hero Divock Origi both starting from the bench against the Magpies.
With the Reds struggling for goals and inspiration going forward, Sturridge eventually found his way onto the pitch around the hour mark as Klopp tried to break the deadlock.
One performance in particular was singled out by The Guardian's Andy Hunter, who said that "a fitful contribution from Christian Benteke cast doubt on his suitability to Klopp's system", also noting "the stark contrast in the intensity and style of his team when Benteke does and does not start".
It was a Liverpool player who put the ball in the net first - but at the wrong end, as Martin Skrtel turned Georginio Wijnaldum's shot past the helpless Simon Mignolet from close range to give the hosts a surprise lead with 20 minutes to go.
A poor refereeing decision saw an exquisite volleyed equaliser from Alberto Moreno wrongly ruled out for offside as the game entered its final stages, Klopp later lamenting: "It was a clear goal, I saw it. No problem. When the linesman sees this goal he won't feel good. It was a brilliant goal, goal of the month."
Wijnaldum grabbed the Magpies' second goal in injury time to compound Klopp's misery, meeting Moussa Sissoko's pass with a delicate first-time chip to beat the onrushing Mignolet.
-
Liverpool's Anfield redemption: how did they do it?Talking Point Arne Slot's blueprint and standout player performances guide the Reds to record 20th league title
-
Where are all the English football managers?Talking Point Eddie Howe's Carabao Cup success underlines absence of homegrown coaching talent in the Premier League
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium earlyTalking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
-
Has Liverpool been weakened by Jürgen Klopp’s ‘seven-year itch’?feature After seven years at Anfield, critics are wondering whether his magic is wearing off
-
Premier League all-star game: ‘incredibly arrogant’ or natural ‘evolution’?Talking Point Managers and pundits dismiss US-inspired idea from Chelsea co-owner
-
Who is Darwin Nunez? The ‘modern striker’ signing for LiverpoolIn the Spotlight Portuguese club Benfica confirm a deal for the Uruguay international worth up to €100m
-
Uefa Champions League final: blame game begins for chaos in Parisfeature Liverpool call for an investigation as Uefa are accused of a ‘narrative of lies’
