One 9/10, three 8s and a few 6s - Player ratings from Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool
An electric display at St James' Park and one that could've won us three points had it not been for a few bad giveaways and some emphatic finishing from Mo Salah, who helped Liverpool leave Newcastle with a 3-3 draw.
Here's our marks out of 10 and comments the morning after an entertaining night on Tyneside:
Pope (7) - Beaten three times but made some important saves to deny Macallister and Jones. Distribution was a bit better! Picked out a few passes to full-backs and was quick to release ball on counter.
Livramento (7) - Aside from losing the ball once on the edge of his own box, Tino performed well in both attack and defence. Helps carry the ball forward and did pretty well against Gakpo and Diaz. Not much came down his side.
Schar (7.5) - Showed great determination to not give up on the ball for our third goal. Passing was wayward at times but defended well.
Burn (7.5) - Won everything in the air and made a few big tackles to cut out Liverpool attacks. Typical whole-hearted performance and handled Nunez very well.
Hall (6) - First half was good, where he got tight to Salah, but was given a torrid time by the Egyptian and Alexander-Arnold in the second half. It was his poor pass that turned over possession, directly leading to their first equaliser. Still did plenty of good, but all three goals coming down his side.
Tonali (8.5) - All action performance and barely put a foot wrong but was caught out by Jones for the equaliser. Tracked the run but couldn't keep with him. Does a lot of the little things that go unnoticed so well and looked a class act in that No.6 role, snapping into tackles, moving the ball forward quickly and rarely losing possession.
Guimaraes (8.5) - That’s more like it. Two assists and a performance much better than we have seen lately, with the Brazilian thriving in that right-sided no.8 role, which allowed him to be slightly more creative as he slipped a few threaded balls behind Liverpool's midfield; one being the pass to Isak that led to Gordon's goal. Plus, he FINALLY won the coin toss!
Joelinton (7) - Caught in possession a few times and played a part in Liverpool’s second goal. Typically powerful performance off the ball but could add a bit more in possession.
Murphy (6) - Hit the post and had a glorious chance in the second half that he couldn't get on target after lobbing Kelleher. Plenty of energy and offered an outlet, but was cheap in possession at times and lacked quality in key moments.
Gordon (8) - Missed a golden opportunity in the first half but got a much needed goal in the second half. Was back at it on the left and looked much more comfortable in his best position. Almost got a brilliant assist after cutting in from the left and pinging a pass that put Murphy in behind. Much, much better!
Isak (9) - An electric display from the Swede. Playing against a high line brings him into the game a lot more and we look like a different team when he’s on form. Took his goal brilliantly, linked up well throughout and fed Gordon for his goal. Should've had a penalty but VAR ignored Quansah's trip. Needs to stay fit!
Subs:
Barnes (6) - Did his job well but rarely threatened in an attacking sense.
Wilson, Longstaff, Willock (N/A) - All came on with just a few minutes to go.
