Liverpool started the game in their favoured 3-5-2 formation, with natural wing backs in Aly Cissokho and Glen Johnson bot making reappearances. Sakho, Toure and Skrtel form the central defence 3. Lucas Leiva stayed at home with his wife and their new-born daughter. Jordan Henderson joined Steven Gerrard in the middle of the park with Victor Moses lining up behind the formidable SAS.
The game started with good flowing football from both sides. Glen Johnson looked comfortable back in his right back role and made some lovely passes, most notably a cracking cross pitch ball to the opposite wing. Liverpool were having the most of territory in the first twenty minutes, but somehow their passing just didn’t seem to be hitting the mark. Then, all of a sudden, Newcastle broke through midfield, and from thirty yards out, Yohan Cabaye let loose with a powerful, swerving shot which Simon Mignolet let pass him. The keeper really should have stopped a shot from such a distance. It was totally against the run of play, but leaves Liverpool on the back foot, one-nil down
Newcastle followed up their goal with some sustained pressure and a few corners left Liverpool’s defence being tested. Liverpool were still on top in terms of possession and even after Gerrard delivered their eighth corner, they still couldn’t find the goal. Back at the other end, Newcastle who were primarily counter-attacking, Mignolet redeemed himself slightly, with a great stop from a powerful shot from Newcastle’s Moussa Cissokho. Apart from the goal it was definitely the best chance of the game so far. Liverpool got back to attacking and Luis Suarez made a good attempt. A couple of minutes later, Luis Suarez, again in the box, was brought down with a professional foul by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. The defender was given an instant red card and hesitatingly made his way off the pitch. Meanwhile, skipper Steven Gerrard, stepped up to the spot to easily score the penalty kick, his one hundredth league goal. The game had turned yet again upon its head and Newcastle, down to ten men, must surely be under pressure for the rest of the match.
Just ahead of halftime and Newcastle decided to change their formation slightly with a defensive substitution, Paul Dummett on for Moussa Sissoko. Steven Gerrard managed to pick himself up a caution. Half time, and rather a messy 45 minutes in terms of football has left Liverpool looking set up to dominate the game for the second period.
Early on in the second half and Gerrard was lucky not to get a second card, with the St James’ Crowd doing their best to convince referee Andre Mariner to dismiss him. Again, against the run of play, Newcastle retook the lead. A floating free kick was slammed into the back of the net by Paul Dummet latching onto it in the far right of the six yard area. He breezed into the area and left Aly Cissokho staring into space. Cissokho hadn’t looked good all game and the goal can really be put down to a defensive error.
Brendan Rodgers decided to up the ante and make an attacking change, bringing on Luis Alberto for Mamadou Sakho. Again, Liverpool moved into the final quarter of the game, dominating possession and territory. Luis Suarez again went close, though overall Liverpool were struggling to find form in the final third. They looked a bit lacklustre in terms of their effort, with slack passing and casually giving the ball away. The match, however, in the 72nd minute, turned again in Liverpool’s favour, the SAS coming to the rescue, Daniel Sturridge easily heading in a nice ball into six yard box from his strike partner, Luis Suarez.
A few minutes later and a beautiful passage of play from Liverpool, Gerrard sliding a ball dangerously into the box for Cissokho to cross into Suarez’s path for him to unleash a spectacular volley which skimmed the top of the bar. Liverpool so unlucky not to be in front for the first time in the game. Another Liverpool attack failed to pierce the goal, as the ball was pinged about in the box, with nobody able to convert. Newcastle made a substitution with their star player Cabaye making way for Vurnon Anita and Hatem Ben Arfa leaving the pitch for Sammy Ameobi to come on. Liverpool responded, bringing Raheem Sterling on for Glen Johnson. Hopefully the youthful attacker would be able to bring us the victory.
Liverpool were just unable to get the critical goal. Even a last minute Suarez from the edge of the box was thwarted. As is often the case when a team goes down to ten men, it spurs them on to deliver a stronger performance. Liverpool should really have taken their chances, but will have to make do with an away draw and one point. The game finished 2-2.
Man Of The Match: Although he didn’t get on the scoresheet, Luis Suarez was directly involved in both Liverpool goals and overall had a very decent game.