The magic of Anfield has done it again. Liverpool stays alive in the title race as they win with the last kick of the game against Newcastle, beating them 2-1.
How are Liverpool still able to do this? This should have been the dagger in their title dreams. But, no, this Liverpool team has pulled off another miracle.
If this game ended in a draw, that would have left the Reds with only one win game out of five, six points out of fifteen, and seven points behind Manchester City and nine points behind Arsenal (the current league leaders). But, this win changes everything.
Liverpool now has momentum, which last second wins will give you, eight points on the board, and are now only five points behind City and seven behind Arsenal. That may not seem like much, but for Liverpool, these two additional points mean everything.
They now have the belief that they can overcome anything, while also being in a decent enough position to still catch City and Arsenal.
If only Newcastle could have held on…which they almost did. In my opinion, this game really should have ended in a draw.
Despite Liverpool having a dominating 72% possession of the ball, double the number of passes (624-255), nearly FIVE TIMES the number of total shots (23-5), and passing the ball 20% more accurate than Newcastle (83%-63%), the Geordies really shut out Liverpool’s attack for the vast majority of this game.
Aside from a Luis Diaz open-net miss, Newcastle had the better chances up until the 60’ish minute as Alexander Isak, Newcastle record-breaking signing, scored two impressive goals (though one was offside). The goal that counted in the 35′, came off a bad Jordan Henderson turnover, which Sean Longstaff picked up and slide Isak through on goal.
I had my doubts about Isak’s ability to adjust to the Premier League, but his finish was superb. He calmly guided the ball over an oncoming Alisson, roofing the ball in the top netting. With his offside goal, where he sat down Andrew Roberston and placed another shot over Alisson, he’s easily showcased his finishing skills.
He’s definitely going to put up 10-15 goals for Newcastle this season, as long as he stays healthy.
Nevertheless, Isak’s goal was the only shot on target that Newcastle had throughout the entire game as Liverpool really took over as Roberto Firmino scored on the 60′ from a Mo Salah assist.
The remaining two members of Liverpool’s famous front three, Salah and Frimino, really are in two polar opposite forms at the moment. Firmino, who many (me included) believed his best days were behind him, has now scored three goals in the last two games and has been vital in Liverpool’s attacks in these opening five games.
Meanwhile, Salah, Liverpool’s reigning Player of the Year, only has two goals in five games, been completely disengaged from Liverpool’s attack, and is in the worst run of form out of any Liverpool player. Hopefully, for Liverpool fans, his assist should boost his confidence.
Anyways, the moment of this game could only be one thing: Fábio Carvalho’s 98′ stoppage time winner. When Liverpool fans say Anfield can produce magical moments, I believe them as the Reds had absolutely nothing going on for the entirety of stoppage time.
In fact, it was Newcastle that had the best chance to score in the 8+ minutes added on to the game., with Sean Longstaff unable to capitalize on a Joelinton cross just before the goal. Yet, as I said, on the final corner of the game, a mad scramble ensued inside Newcastle’s’ box as both Liverpool and Newcastle players scrambled to get ahold of the ball.
And, just when I thought that Newcastle was going to clear the ball, Fábio Carvalho (who just celebrated his birthday yesterday) rifled a half volley past Nick Pope’s head to rescue all three points for Liverpool and send Anfield into an uproar. I can’t even count how many times this Liverpool team has rescued lost points in the final minutes of games under Jurgen Klopp’s reign.
Like I said, it really is miraculous how they keep coming back.
Nonetheless, Liverpool have kept their title hopes alive with this last-minute win, keeping the pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal. We’ll see how they play against Everton this Sunday in the first Merseyside Derby of the year.
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