Liverpool 1, Newcastle 2 - Match Recap: Reds Well Beaten

Yesterday at 02:30 PM

Liverpool don't show up and get the result they deserve.

Liverpool 1 - 2 Newcastle

Reds: Chiesa 90+4'

Blood Money FC: Burn 45', Isak 52'

Pre-Match

Caoimhin Kelleher returns between the sticks, perhaps for health reasons, perhaps for penalty shootout reasons — he as saved six shootout penalites for the Reds, Alisson only one — while Jarell Quansah replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. Otherwise it is XI as usual from Arne Slot

First Half

Early on Newcastle players are predictably falling down under any and all contact and winning the cheapest free kicks diving can buy.

Newcastle applying the early pressure as Liverpool seem mostly content with punting it long and losing possession.

The Reds waste a decent set-piece opportunity with one of the worse deliveries you'll see this season. Not very encouraging from Liverpool in the opening stanza here.

Opening 15 minutes has been two sides largely looking better when pressing the opponent in the attacking half, rather than when creating from deep possession. Tow shots have been taken, both from Newcastle, neither worthy of being called a chance.

Alexis Mac Allister is penalised for stamping on Joelinton in the middle of the park and is perhaps fortunate to avoid a booking.

Sustained spells of Liverpool possession, but the Reds are struggling to carve out shooting opportunities.

Jarell Quansah goes on a Matip-esque run, but with everybody else standing still, is soon swarmed by Newcastle defenders. Quansah then coughs up possession in his own half, but a last ditch slide from Ibrahima Konaté preventes the danger from escalating.

Luis Diaz is nearly in, but Nick Pope gets out of his area to intervene and nothing comes of it. The flag goes up anyway.

Disgusting elbow-first challenge from Kieran Trippier on a jumping Diaz leads to a free kick and a talking to when a yellow card would have been the obvious outcome.

Harvey Barnes goes round Quansah on the flank and swings a cross in, but Trippier's finish from an angle is blocked by Andy Robertson. The subsequent corner ends up on Dan Burn's head at the back post for the second time tonight but Kelleher collects the effort.

Trippier handles the ball in the box but it is waved away, checked and cleared.

Goal. For the third time today, a Newcastle corner finds Dan Burn dueling Alexis Mac Allister at the back post, and this time his header finds the bottom corner.

Mohamed Salah finds Diaz in the box, who heads it back to Jota, but the striker hooks his half volley effort horribly wide.

Half-Time

Despite a late chance, Liverpool trail deservedly at the half. Newcastle have taken nine shots and won six corners to Liverpool's one and one. Big adjustments needed, both in strategy and application, if the Reds are going to give themselves a chance at their first trophy of the season.

Second Half

No changes for either side.

Signs of life from the Reds as Virgil strides forward and picks out Jota, but the cross is cut out by Joelinton.

Isak has the ball in the back of the net after another corner, but it is ruled out for an offside on Guimaraes who had unsighted Kelleher.

Goal. Isak smacks it home after Robertson loses a header at the back post. 2-0 Newcastle, with Liverpool barely partaking.

Curtis Jones and Darwin Núñez come on for Ibrahima Konaté and Diogo Jota in the 57th minute. Gravenberch to centre-back.

Wonderful sweeping attack sets up Curtis Jones from 12 yards but Nick Pope makes an outstanding one handed save.

Liverpool are pushing now, winning another corner but unable to capitalise.

Huge opportunity for Isak who gets a volley attempt from point-blank range, but the pass is behind him and Kelleher is able to keep the effort out.

Newcastle players are now falling like flies. Two go down at a time, which means they don't have to come off the pitch after receiving treatment. A loophole that nobody could have foressen. The time wasting has begun.

Gakpo comes on for Mac Allister.

The Reds have created nothing since the Jones opportunity 20 minutes ago.

With 20 minutes to go, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa replace Ryan Gravenberch and Luis Diaz.

Harvey Elliott is sitting in his spot and picking passes into the box now. He finds Jones, but the shot is wild and off target.

Nothing happening. Newcastle are simply sitting back and Liverpool look nothing at all like breaking them down.

GOAL!!! Liverpool have one back, as Harvey Elliott picks up a second ball in midfield and slides it through for Federico Chiesa, who converts one on one with Nick Pope.

Liverpool cannot get a hold of the ball.

Full-time: Liverpool lose 2-1.

Final Thoughts

Despite a late blitz, it's another terrible performance, and the Reds deservedly lose their first and only cup final of the season. All that remains now is avoiding a total collapse and collecting the Premier League title they've put themselves in such dominant position to win.