Newcastle player ratings v Liverpool: ‘Immense’ 8/10 & 4/10 ‘disaster’ in 3-2 defeat

The atmosphere at St James’ Park was electric for the first home game of the season, but the final result was a heartbreaking one for Newcastle United.

A dramatic, last-gasp goal from Liverpool snatched a 3-2 victory, leaving the Magpies with nothing to show for a performance that was filled with both immense promise and a single moment of madness.

Playing most of the match with ten men after a first-half red card made the team’s spirited comeback all the more impressive, even if it ultimately ended in disappointment.

The game started brightly for the home side, who looked sharp and controlled the tempo for large periods of the first half.

They created chances and looked the more likely team to score. However, football is often a game of cruel twists, and the first major one arrived when Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch managed to get a shot away from distance.

It was a effort that seemed manageable, but it found its way into the bottom corner of the net, giving Liverpool a lead against the run of play.

The real turning point of the match came just before the halftime whistle. A reckless and unnecessary challenge from Anthony Gordon on Virgil van Dijk was initially deemed a yellow card offense.

But after the referee was advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the VAR officials, the decision was upgraded to a straight red card. Gordon’s early exit left his team with a mountain to climb for the entire second half.

Things went from bad to worse almost immediately after the break. Liverpool scored a second goal to double their lead, and many fans feared the worst was yet to come.

What followed, though, was a testament to the character and fight within this Newcastle squad. Rather than collapsing, the ten men of Newcastle dug deep and began to battle their way back into the game.

The lifeline came from their talismanic midfielder, Bruno Guimaraes, who powered in a header to bring the score to 2-1 and ignite a belief that seemed impossible just minutes earlier.

The team poured forward in search of an equalizer, and their perseverance was rewarded in the 89th minute. Substitute Will Osula became an instant hero, showing great composure to score and sending the home crowd into a state of pure delirium.

Just when it seemed the story would have a glorious ending, Liverpool delivered the final, devastating blow. In the dying seconds of stoppage time, substitute Rio Ngumoha found a way to score, breaking Newcastle hearts and securing all three points for the visitors.

It was a brutally harsh lesson for Newcastle, showing that even the most courageous performances can be undone by a moment of loss of concentration.

Player Ratings

Nick Pope (6/10): Couldn’t be blamed for any of the Liverpool goals. He was left exposed by his defense for the first and the second was an excellent finish. Made a couple of smart saves to keep his team in the game when called upon.

Kieran Trippier (7/10): A steady and experienced head at the back. He defended his channel well and was always looking to get forward and support the attack, even after the team went down to ten men.

Fabian Schar (7/10): Generally very solid and composed in possession. He played some excellent passes out from the back to start attacks and was a key reason Newcastle were able to build so much pressure in the second half.

Dan Burn (7/10): A dominant physical presence in both boxes. He won countless aerial duels and was instrumental in the build-up to Newcastle’s equalizing goal, using his strength to cause problems for the Liverpool defense.

Tino Livramento (8/10): A truly outstanding performance from the young defender. He was immense, showing incredible energy, athleticism, and composure on the ball. He read the game brilliantly and was a constant outlet driving forward from the back.

Sandro Tonali (7/10): Set the tone early with his aggressive pressing and ball winning in the middle of the park. He was a key part of Newcastle’s early dominance before fading a little in the second half and being substituted.

Bruno Guimaraes (8/10): The heart and soul of the team. He was everywhere, constantly trying to drive the team forward and dictate the play. His headed goal was a moment of pure quality and leadership that sparked the unbelievable comeback.

Joelinton (6/10): Brought his typical powerful energy to the midfield, making strong tackles and driving runs. He was involved in some promising moves but unfortunately faded as the game progressed and was substituted.

Anthony Elanga (6/10): Started the game with a real burst of excitement, using his pace to immediately cause problems. He set up a great chance for Joelinton and kept working hard throughout the match, especially after the team was reduced to ten men.

Harvey Barnes (5/10): It was a quiet afternoon for the winger. He was involved in some early build-up play but struggled to make a significant impact on the game and found it difficult to get involved after the red card changed the team’s shape.

Anthony Gordon (4/10): A performance of two stark halves. He was active and looked threatening early on, coming close with a couple of headed efforts. However, his moment of sheer recklessness with the challenge that led to his red card was a disaster for his team. It completely changed the complexion of the match and left his teammates with an impossible task.

Substitutes: The players who came on made a genuine impact. Will Osula deserves special mention for showing great bravery to score the equalizing goal and lift the entire stadium.

Jacob Ramsey and Lewis Hall both looked sharp and tidy in their brief debuts, helping Newcastle push for the win in the closing stages.