It was Liverpool that looked like they had 10 men…

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The Mag

·26. August 2025

It was Liverpool that looked like they had 10 men…

As the time approached 8pm on a sultry August bank holiday, where earlier the temperature gauge had topped out at an impressive 82F, the talk was all about a certain Newcastle United striker, he who hitherto had plied his trade in the number 14 jersey and had been AWOL since the 4-0 reverse at Celtic Park.

By quarter to nine, the focus had turned to our number 10, a makeshift striker who was playing up top only because of the absence of the aforementioned Alexander Isak, but whose crass stupidity looked to have cost Newcastle United dear.

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In the end, it still did, but saying that fails to do justice to the shift that the ten men that remained on the pitch put in, the likes of which I genuinely struggle to recall in all my years traipsing up the hill to watch those who don the black and white jersey at St James’ Park.

A goal and ten men down to the reigning Premier League champions at the interval, Newcastle United’s uphill task was extended by the power of ten within 23 seconds of the restart when Hugo Ekitike pounced after Cody Gakpo’s effort was blocked, to fire the ball past Nick Pope and make it 2-0 to the visitors.

Yet earlier in the evening, it was Newcastle United that looked in control, dominating proceedings and unsettling Liverpool’s defence, with Anthony Gordon coming close on three occasions in relatively quick succession, the pick of these chances seeing him head fractionally over from a Barnes cross.

Then, out of nowhere, the match turned. First, Ryan Gravenberch left Pope flat footed and with a little help from Fabian Schar’s right boot and the foot of the post, the Dutchman gave Liverpool the lead in the 35th minute. Ten minutes later, Anthony Gordon saw red, needlessly dragging his studs down the back of Virgil van Dijk’s calf, VAR helping Simon Hooper overturn the yellow card he had initially brandished.

Before Arne Slot could take his seat in the dugout at the beginning of the second half, it was 2-0 and chants of “hand him over, Newcastle” reverberated around the top of Level 7 behind Nick Pope’s goal, a clear nod to the optimism they retain that Liverpool will spirit away our prized asset before deadline day in a week’s time.

Whilst the whole sorry saga has been sickening, Gordon’s sending off only served to magnify the issues behind the scenes at Gallowgate. I don’t think it’s healthy to propagate the line that Gordon wouldn’t have got his marching orders had he not been asked to play up top in Isak’s absence. He has to take responsibility for his actions and I hope Eddie throws the book at him. Let’s face it, it isn’t the first time Gordon has been given his marching orders. Will he learn this time? Whilst his heartfelt apology goes some way to redressing the balance, in the moment I was so incensed with Gordon’s reckless behaviour and I haven’t really calmed down the morning after.

As for Alexander Isak, he needs to take a long hard look at himself the morning after his teammates played their hearts out, expending energy they really could have done with keeping in the tank for Elland Road, and in the case of Tonali, Joelinton and Schar, all off with injuries that could keep them out for some time.

In the 57th minute, our captain fantastic, Bruno Guimaraes, began the fightback, capitalising on some slapdash defending to head home from close range following an enticing cross into the area from Tino Livramento. For the next half hour, it was Liverpool that looked like they had 10 men, as wave after wave of Newcastle attacks had them on the ropes. Despite losing the Italian, the Brazilian and the Swiss, United were undeterred and eventually found an equaliser with only two minutes left on the clock, the often-maligned Will Osula getting on the end of Nick Pope’s hopeful punt downfield.

When the fourth official signalled that there would be eleven added minutes, Newcastle went for it, forcing a succession of corners at the Gallowgate End, further fraying the nerves of Allison Becker and his defenders. That flurry of activity had certainly unnerved the visitors but as the clock approached the 100th minute, Liverpool conjured a winner, their 16 year year old substitute, Rio Ngumhoa left unmarked at the back post to fire the ball past a (not for the first time) static Nick Pope.

It was a truly sickening end to a sickening few weeks but we should be extremely proud of that band of brothers who performed so admirably in the face of such adversity. To get a foothold in the game and look the more likely winner against the reigning champions, having been 2-0 behind and down to ten men, is no mean feat.

That said, those costly injuries and Gordon’s three match suspension, as well as the fact we’ve only registered one point from our opening two matches, are probably more significant when looking at the bigger picture, than is the 3-2 defeat against the team we beat in the League Cup Final back in March.

Newcastle 2 Liverpool 3 – Monday 25 August 2025 8pm

Newcastle United:

Gordon red card 45+3, Bruno 57, Osula 88

Liverpool

Gravenberch 35, Ekitike 46, Nugumoha 90+10

Possession was Newcastle 38% Liverpool 62%

Total shots were Newcastle 10 Liverpool 5

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Liverpool 4

Corners were Newcastle 7 Liverpool 1

Touches in the box Newcastle 27 Liverpool 15

Newcastle team v Liverpool:

Pope, Trippier (Hall 76), Schar (Thiaw 81), Burn, Livramento, Joelinton (Ramsey 76), Tonali (Miley 66), Bruno, Barnes (Osula 76), Gordon, Elanga