17x possession lost: Journalist rips into ‘particularly shocking’ Liverpool duo v Newcastle | OneFootball

Two Liverpool players were singled out as being ‘particularly shocking’ during the first half of the match against Newcastle this afternoon.

The Reds’ Premier League campaign got off to the worst possible start as Anthony Elanga broke the deadlock inside five minutes, with Jamie Carragher fuming over how easily the home side played through the visitors’ midfield for the goal.

Andoni Iraola’s side mustered nine shots prior to half-time but none of them genuinely troubled Magpies goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, whose two saves were both made with ease.

Journalist slams ‘shocking’ Liverpool full-backs

Liverpool Echo reporter Ian Doyle was distinctly unimpressed with LFC full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong in the first half, with both players picking up yellow cards.

The journalist wrote in the publication’s live matchday blog: ‘Both Kerkez and Frimpong have been particularly shocking at left and right-back respectively.

‘Each is on a booking, which is surely something Newcastle will look to expose as the game progresses. Might we see Tsimikas and Araujo in the second half?’

A tough first half for Kerkez and Frimpong

Unfortunately, neither of Liverpool’s starting full-backs covered themselves in glory during the first 45 minutes at St James’ Park.

Frimpong has offered scant attacking threat from the right flank, failing to produce an accurate cross and losing possession eight times in the opening half (Sofascore), and Doyle observed that the Dutchman’s defending has been ‘slightly haphazard at times’ (Liverpool Echo).

Kerkez hasn’t fared any better, being caught for pace by Elanga for the early goal and struggling to contain the threat of the Newcastle forward, while also being wasteful of the couple of half-chances which came his way at the other end of the pitch and losing the ball nine times (Sofascore).

Not so long ago, Liverpool’s full-backs were the envy of the football world as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson rampaged up the flanks with devastating effect. Sadly, their respective successors endured a tough first half on Tyneside this afternoon.