Jonjo Shelvey put Newcastle in front before goals from Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold secured Liverpool's win.
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Liverpool came from behind to defeat Newcastle United 3-1 in the Premier League fixture on Thursday. Jonjo Shelvey put Newcastle in front early in the match with a superb long ranger. But the hosts equalized through Diogo Jota before Mohamed Salah gave the lead to Liverpool. The second half was an even affair but Trent Alexander Arnold sealed the win for the Reds with an astonishing late strike. The victory helped Liverpool to become the first team to win 2000 English top-flight games.
The Reds dominated the first few minutes as Jota tested Dubravka inside the opening five minutes. However, the visitors took a surprise lead in the 7th minute. Thiago Silva’s poor clearance fell to Shelvey outside the box. The former Liverpool midfielder took one touch before unleashing a right-foot curler past Dubravka and into the top corner.
In response, Sadio Mane hit the post, although he was flagged offside before Jota side-netted. In the 21st minute, the home side equalized under controversial circumstances. Isaac Hayden went down holding his head after clearing a Liverpool corner. Schar also took a knock, but managed to get back to his feet quickly.
The clearance reached only to Alexander Arnold who played the ball back to Mane on the right side of the box. The Senegalese footballer’s cross found Jota at the far post. The 25-year-old forward’s initial header was well saved by Dubravka but he slotted home from the rebound.
Hayden remained on the floor and the referee was quickly surrounded by Newcastle players as the play wasn’t stopped for a head injury. Despite the protests the goal stood. Two minutes later, Thiago gave the ball away to Allan Saint-Maximin in the midfield. The 24-year-old raced forward before his shot was well saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Liverpool went ahead in the 25th minute. Shelvey’s poor back pass allowed Mane through. Although the 29-year-old’s shot was saved by Dubravka, Salah hammered the rebound into the top corner.
The second half was an end-to-end affair as Mane tested Dubravka from Arnold’s free-kick. In the 64th minute, there was a penalty appeal as Arnold tackled Ryan Fraser from behind. After a lengthy VAR check, the on-field decision stood. Shelvey’s free-kick went just wide.
Ten minutes from time, Jota’s attempt was cleared off the line by Hayden. In the 87th minute, the hosts sealed all three points with a rocket of an effort from Arnold. The full back received the ball 25 yards out and took a touch before firing the ball into the top corner with a ferocious right-foot strike.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to BT Sport: “We used more Bournemouth than Newcastle to analyse the game. We expected similar things. They made life hard for us to be honest. We rushed in moments, it was not like we had 15 or 16 clear-cut chances but we scored really good goals.”
Jürgen Klopp took satisfaction in an ‘absolutely deserved’ win after we beat Newcastle United 3-1 in the Premier League:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 16, 2021
On the Trent goal: “It was a stunner, unbelievable. His shooting technique is absolutely different level. In games like this, staying positive, staying offensive-minded in moments like this, just take the chance. Thank God Mike Dean is good on his legs so he could get out of the way!”
On Jota’s goal: “I didn’t see it back. Both got up later. I’m not saying it’s like this situation, but really quite frequently players go down in the box when they lose a challenge, but I don’t know, I couldn’t see it. The assistant on my side told me it was all good, that two players on the same team came together.”
