Football can be a cruel game – Newcastle 2 Liverpool 3

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The Mag

·25 Agustus 2025

Football can be a cruel game – Newcastle 2 Liverpool 3

Don’t blame the ref or the VAR.

Liverpool were wasting time, being pressed back, giving away free kicks, had two players booked after United had been lucky to escape a yellow card in the opening exchanges.

Video OneFootball

Then we conceded a sucker punch of a goal when a sloppy Trippier throw-in surrendered possession in our final third.

Rather than keep our heads, Burn had a whack at Salah and was booked. Rather than heed the warning, Gordon sprinted to close down the keeper, who passed to Van Dijk. Gordon sprinted even faster and scraped his studs down the back of the centre-half’s calf. Not for the first time, Gordon let down himself, his teammates and his manager. A red card all night long, even though initially referee Hooper showed a yellow.

With the departure of our makeshift centre-forward went any realistic hope of a win. Down to 10 men for the entire second half against the Premier League champions.

Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s lead immediately after the restart. Two fierce shots from the edge of the box that both found the net via the inside of the post.

Bad became worse when Tonali was thrown to the ground by Ekitike, who seemed to damage the Italian’s shoulder. Perhaps provoked by that assault, United attacked down the left and, when Livramento swung a high cross to the far post, nobody was going to stop Guimaraes outmuscling Kerkez to power home our first goal of the season.

That was all the formerly febrile crowd needed to roar on their heroes again. A series of aerial attacks shook Liverpool to the core but Tonali was forced off by his shoulder injury, making United’s task even tougher.

The nightmare under the lights was extended when Joelinton, stretching desperately to win the ball in midfield, appeared to strain a groin muscle. His departure gave Ramsey his United debut. Hall replaced Trippier and Osula took over from Barnes at the same time.

From the free kick, Schar took a blow to the head for the umpteenth time in his United career. He couldn’t continue and Thiaw came on as a concussion substitute.

Two midfielders and a centre-half forced off, a straight red card that will earn a three-match ban, and still United refused to submit. The dominant team with 11 men, the dominant team with 10 men.

Guimaraes did superbly to win a free kick that was punted deep towards Liverpool’s box. Burn challenged for the ball and Osula gambled as a proper striker should. He got his reward with a calm finish under the onrushing Alisson.

A point was the least we deserved as Liverpool continued to be rocked and rolled. The 11 minutes of stoppage time were played initially in the visitors’ final third. They managed to find a foothold and, agonisingly, stole the win in the 100th minute, courtesy of a 16-year-old sub.

Pope went up for a free kick and the resulting corner but the final whistle was blown before United could score another equaliser. Football can be a cruel game.

Newcastle 2 Liverpool 3 – Monday 25 August 2025 8pm

Goals:

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: