Ten-man Liverpool rallied from behind to secure a 2-1 victory away to Newcastle United on Sunday evening.
Premier League
Result: Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool
Date: 27 August 2023
Venue: St Jame's Park
The Reds handed new signing Wataru Endo his first start, as one of the two changes from their win over Bournemouth, with Joel Matip also returning after an injury to Ibrahima Konate. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister remained in the side after his red-card against the Cherries was rescinded.
The game was open in the early stages, with both sides threatening upfront and 25 minutes later, Anthony Gordon eventually broke the deadlock for Newcastle with a low strike past goalkeeper Alisson in a one-on-one after Trent Alexander-Arnold could not trap a back pass by Mohamed Salah, that put him through on goal.
The Reds made another costly error three minutes later as they were reduced to ten men after Virgil Van Dijk was red-carded for denying Alexander Isak a clear goal-scoring opportunity, after he brought him down on the edge of the box charging through on goal. Van Dijk's red-card was his first at Liverpool.
Eddie Howe's charges seized the momentum as Miguel Almiron came very close to doubling their lead ten minutes before the interval with a powerful volley in the box that was saved to the underside of the crossbar and parried out of danger by Alisson.
Liverpool were still subdued in the early exchanges of the second stanza and on the hour-mark, Jurgen Klopp eventually made a double attacking change as Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliot both came on for Cody Gakpo and Endo.
The Reds immediately came to life briefly but they were pinned back in their own half again with 18 minutes to go after Howe threw in the fresh legs of Cullum Wilson, who replaced Isak.
The Magpies were spirited again as three minutes later Joelinton came close to getting their second goal with a strike that hit the near post.
But the game stretched from end to end after that and Darwin Nunez, who had just come on, levelled matters for the visitors in the last nine minutes with a low strike across goal after he pounced on a defensive mistake by the Magpies.
The match was on the edge in the dying minutes and Nunez snatched the winner for Liverpool in stoppage time with a low strike in the box after a through ball by Salah.
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