Liverpool started the match in brilliant fashion, as they went 2 goals up before the half time interval. However, with Rafael Benitez in charge, Newcastle looked like a completely different side, as they wiped out the advantage in the next 45, courtesy from goals coming from Cisse and Colback.
Here are 3 things we learned …
3Liverpool’s Season could be derailed if Sakho is suspended for long
Liverpool were handed a nightmare to deal with in the shape of Mamadou Sakho. The Frenchman failed a drug test and was suspended by the club. The club suffered on the pitch, as Newcastle exploited the naivety of their defense time and again.
However, Liverpool fans have the right to believe that the worst is yet to come out of this doping scandal. With the team traveling to Villarreal on Thursday, the likely absence of Mamadou Sakho means that either Toure or Skrtel would take his spot in the Liverpool lineup.
Thus, while both of these were brilliant in their prime, the major concern for the Liverpool faithful – which was compounded after today’s performance, is about the return of the defensive demons that have haunted the club for too long now.
In the shape of a defensive partnership of Lovren and Sakho, the Liverpool back four looked settled. However, now that the former is suspended for a shameful reason, Jurgen Klopp has only two weeks to make a decision which could make or break this season for The Reds.
2Daniel Sturridge is back at his best
With the match just 80-seconds old, Daniel Sturridge showcased his magic touch by landing the ball on his chest before leveling it past the Newcastle United goalkeeper.
Although this might sound like an easy job, the fact that Sturridge had to take 3 Newcastle players out of the equation for his goal, explains the brilliance of his fantastic skill.
Thus, at a time when pressure is mounting on Jurgen Klopp with players falling out one after the other – for different reasons, the form of Daniel Sturridge could help the German Manager achieve his goals for this season.
1Newcastle have the ability to stay up
If one thing could be appreciated from the last 7 days of watching Newcastle United football club, it has to be the audacious fighting spirit which Rafael Benitez has instilled in this team.
By giving confidence to the likes of Pappiss Cisse and Sissoko and benching under-performing players like Jonjo Shelvey and Mitrovic, the former Liverpool Manager has done the same thing in less than 2 months, than what his predecessor at the Newcastle hot seat wasn’t able to do in the whole of the season. He has aroused the passion in the Newcastle squad and the results are brilliant.
However, as we know that football is a game where numbers matter the most, the stint of Rafael Benitez at Newcastle will be judged by the position Newcastle finish the season in.
