Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 – Match ratings and comments on all the Newcastle United players | OneFootball

We asked Davey Hat-Trick to give us his match ratings and player comments after Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0.

We were well beaten by the champions elect.

Newcastle weren’t awful but Liverpool were 20% better in every department.

We couldn’t pass the ball, we hardly fashioned any chances, and we looked second-best for most of the game. Better marking in our area would have prevented both of Liverpool’s goals, but I got the impression they had a couple of gears left if they’d needed them.

This sort of game serves to illustrate how far behind the truly elite teams Newcastle are, and Liverpool are definitely that.

Credit where its due: Arne Slot has taken Klopp’s team and made them better, and he’s nowhere near as annoying as his predecessor.

Newcastle huffed and puffed but didn’t click.

Maybe Isak would have made a difference (I am told we didn’t have a single shot on target) and calmer heads would have helped, but we can’t complain about the result.

However, we have plenty of winnable games left this season, so Europe is still a realistic goal in my view.

Nick Pope – 5

Nervous as a kitten.

Should have done better on Liverpool’s first, flapped on a couple of crosses, one of which led to a disallowed goal that looked fine to me, and nearly played Salah in for a comedy goal.

Tino Livramento – 6

Willing and positive to begin with but seemed to lose heart as the game progressed.

Fabian Schar – 5

Poor for Liverpool’s first and didn’t look comfortable all night.

Dan Burn – 6

Did OK I thought but never looked like he was completely in control.

Lewis Hall – 7

If Mo Salah wins the Ballon d’Or this season, I wouldn’t begrudge him it, but Lewis Hall had a decent game against him.

Our best performer in my view, although that’s not saying a lot.

Bruno Guimaraes – 5

Overrun in midfield, as he was at Man City.

Gave away a lot of fouls and a lot of balls.

We needed a captain’s performance and we didn’t get one.

Could have done better for Liverpool’s second.

Sandro Tonali – 5

Didn’t look fit to me and gave the ball away more than just about anyone. He’s a lot better than this.

Could have done better for Liverpool’s first.

Joe Willock – 5

Another one who struggled against a superior midfield.

Looked good against Forest, looked ordinary in this game.

Jacob Murphy – 5

One of our better players for the first 20 minutes – at least tried to initiate some attacks and get the ball into the box, but became less effective the more the game went on.

Callum Wilson – 5

I’d have gone with Osula up front.

Not because I think he’s a better player than Wilson, but because Wilson clearly isn’t match fit, and just wasn’t up to the lone striker’s role.

Had our best (only?) chance but fluffed it.

Anthony Gordon – 5

Kept his head up but was kept quiet by Liverpool’s defence and midfield.

Had very little impact on the left, right or centre, but that was more down to being marshalled by the red wall than a lack of effort.

Harvey Barnes – 5

I thought he looked bright when he came on. Didn’t make much of an impact, but did OK.

Lewis Miley – 6

The pick of our subs, in my view. Worth more minutes and more starts

Kieran Trippier – 5

Didn’t make things better, didn’t make things worse.

William Osula – 5

Deserved a lot longer on the pitch, in my opinion.

He’s a wildcard and given how well Liverpool were containing our attack, a wildcard might have made a difference. Did OK.

Sean Longstaff – N/A

Not on long enough to judge.

Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 – Wednesday 26 February 2025 8.15pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Liverpool:

Szoboszlai 11, Mac Allister 63

Possession was Newcastle 39% Liverpool 61%

Total shots were Newcastle 3 Liverpool 12

Shots on target were Newcastle 0 Liverpool 3

Corners were Newcastle 2 Liverpool 4

Touches in the box Newcastle 16 Liverpool 29

Newcastle team v Liverpool:

Pope, Livramento (Trippier 69), Schar, Burn, Hall, Bruno (Longstaff 88), Tonali (Miley 69), Willock (Barnes 68), Gordon, Wilson (Osula 69), Murphy

Subs:

Dubravka, Ruddy, Krafth, Targett

(Match Report – Nothing to get upset about – Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 – Read HERE)

(Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)