Newcastle 2-0 Liverpool: Steve McClaren gets the formula right as his resolute men secure vital victory courtesy of Martin Skrtel's own goal and Georginio Wijnaldum's deft chip
- In-form Liverpool headed to St James' Park searching for an eighth win in nine matches under Jurgen Klopp
- Georginio Wijnaldum's angled shot deflected in to give Steve McClaren's side the lead on 69 minutes
- The Dutchman chipped in the home side's second in second half stoppage time to cap a fine counter attack
- Victory moved Newcastle up to 18th in the Premier League, in the relegation zone only by goal difference
If it was not Steve McClaren’s original intention to start with Georginio Wijnaldum in this match, Newcastle’s manager will be mightily relieved that the Dutchman eventually appeared on the team sheet.
Afterwards he would only confirm that he had ‘considered leaving out every one of them’ after those abject performances against Leicester and Crystal Palace.
But there is little doubt that he had given serious thought to omitting a Dutchman who would end up securing a precious victory for Newcastle and their beleaguered manager. One that almost certainly saved McClaren from dismissal and, by the former England boss’s own admission, had enabled his side to ‘crawl back’ from the ‘brink of a crisis’.
Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates for Newcastle after his deflected strike opened the scoring for the home side at St James' Park
Wijnaldum's strike on 69 minutes cannoned off the leg of Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel (right) to send Newcastle 1-0 up
Newcastle midfielder Wijnaldum (left) celebrates wildly infront of the jubilant home fans at St James' Park on Sunday
Liverpool players trudge back to the half way line after falling behind to Newcastle at St James' Park after Skrtel's own goal
Newcastle wrapped up the three points in second half stoppage time with this delicate chipped finish from Wijnaldum
The 25-year-old laps up the applause again having fired in his first Newcastle goal since October in the 2-0 victory over Liverpool
MATCH FACTS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Elliot 6; Janmaat 7.5, Mbemba 7, Coloccini 7, Dummett 7.5; Colback 6.5 (Gouffran 77, 6), Anita 8; Sissoko 6.5, De Jong 5.5 (Perez 68, 6), Wijnaldum 8.5; Cisse 6.5 (Thauvin 82, 6)
Subs not used: Darlow, Sterry, Mbabu, Mitrovic
Scorers: Skrtel O.G. 69, Wijnaldum 90
Booked: Colback, Anita, Cisse
Manager: Steve McClaren 7
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet 6; Clyne 6.5, Skrtel 5, Lovren 5, Moreno 6.5; Lucas 6, Allen 6; Milner 5.5, Firmino 5 (Sturridge 62, 6), Ibe 6.5 (Origi 75, 5); Benteke 4.5 (Lallana 62, 6)
Subs not used: Toure, Henderson, Bogdan, Randall
Booking: Lucas
Manager: Jurgen Klopp 5
Referee: Andre Marriner 7
Att: 51,273
MOM: Wijnaldum
Even as recently as Saturday the word here on Tyneside was that McClaren was planning to drop Mike Ashley’s most expensive signing in favour of Kevin Mbabu. And the word had spread far enough for club officials to think it was the case shortly before the Dutch footballer of the year was confirmed to be starting.
When the team sheets were circulated it nevertheless prompted the inevitable questions at a club long rumoured to boast a hierarchy that takes more than a keen interest in selection.
And while McClaren would almost certainly refute such a suggestion, the long pause that followed the post-match question about his goalscorer hinted that Wijnaldum had been fortunate to make the cut.
As it turned out he was a central figure in a more energetic second- half performance that enabled Newcastle to conquer a surprisingly subdued Liverpool. Wijnaldum forced Martin Skrtel to concede a 69th-minute own goal before adding a second in stoppage time.
McClaren’s assessment of his team’s performance was about right. They started nervously but drew confidence from their work ethic as well as the realisation that Liverpool were not on their game.
A first half that produced not a single effort on target might have been hard going for spectators — there were a few groans of dissent among the more anxious Newcastle supporters — but it gave the home side hope.
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren (left) greets Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on the touchline at St James' Park on Sunday evening
Liverpool captain James Milner attempts to evade the challenge of Newcastle's Paul Dummett (left) and Siem de Jong
Defender Martin Skrtel holds his head in his hands after missing a decent chance for Liverpool at Newcastle
Midfielder Lucas Leiva (left) tussles for possession against Newcastle's Siem de Jong during the first-half of the Premier League clash
Presumably McClaren told his players during the interval that Liverpool — who had scored 13 goals in their three previous domestic away games — were here for the taking. The renewed vigour with which Newcastle attacked the second half was evidence of that. In the end their third Premier League victory this season was well deserved.
It was only Jurgen Klopp’s second loss since arriving at Anfield but the German was dignified in defeat.
His side fell short of his own high expectations at ‘the start, the middle and the end’ and he did not even have too many complaints about what should have been a quite stunning, Marco van Basten-style, equaliser from Alberto Moreno in the 79th minute.
Liverpool striker Christian Benteke (centre) was guilty of blazing over the bar when infront of goal at close range
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren (left) and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp (right) react on the touchline during Sunday's contest
Newcastle forward Papiss Cisse fires wide for the hosts during a rare first-half opening for Steve McClaren's side
The officials thought it offside when television replays suggested it was not.
‘Because we weren’t good enough today the linesman thought, “Well, don’t make world-class goals if you play this s**t”,’ Klopp conceded.
The former Dortmund boss was less amused with the suggestion that his team were ever title contenders. He thought it nonsense in fact, quite rightly pointing out that after so little time in charge it was unfair to expect the level of consistency that will be his longer-term objective.
But they did have the appearance of every team this season that has threatened to make a serious challenge — falling at the very next hurdle in a championship race that, with the exception of Leicester, nobody seems to want to win.
Liverpool's winger Jordan Ibe competes for possession with Newcastle full-back Daryl Janmaat at St James' Park on Sunday evening
Alberto Moreno put an excellent chip past Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot before the goal was ruled out for offside
Replays of the move show that Moreno was clearly onside when James Milner played a diagonal pass before he volleyed past Elliot
It did not help that Klopp thought it necessary to start with Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Divock Origi on the bench.
As a consequence Liverpool were a shadow of the side that so impressed against Southampton earlier in the week; a transformation from six-goal winners to a team that, Moreno’s disallowed goal aside, had a weak header from Dejan Lovren as their one effort on target all game.
Liverpool started reasonably well, securing three corners in the opening couple of minutes and very nearly scoring when a 21st-minute delivery from Moreno reached Christian Benteke in the six-yard box. Somehow he diverted the ball over the crossbar.
Klopp cuts a frustrated figure on the sideline as Liverpool were stifled by a resistant first-half showing from Newcastle
Newcastle, by contrast, were a little too reliant on long balls hit towards Papiss Cisse, even if a cross from Vurnon Anita almost resulted in the opening goal for the Newcastle striker. He pounced on Nathaniel Clyne’s failure to intercept but guided his effort wide of the far post.
In fairness to McClaren, his team finished the first half in more promising fashion, building on that momentum after the break and eventually making the breakthrough when Wijnaldum unleashed a cross that flew past Simon Mignolet via Skrtel’s thigh.
It was all the more disappointing for Klopp because a decision, seven minutes earlier, to send on Sturridge and Lallana had had the desired effect. Liverpool were most definitely in the ascendancy.
In the end, however, Moreno was not rewarded for the manner in which he converted a long ball from James Milner and Wijnaldum punished Liverpool further on the break, accelerating on to a pass from Moussa Sissoko before lifting his finish over the advancing Mignolet.
McClaren’s relief, after all the talk of widespread dissent in Newcastle’s ranks, was tangible. ‘I won’t have to go home and start banging my head against a wall,’ he said afterwards. No, he can just be glad he picked Wijnaldum.
Roberto Firmino (left) latches onto a header but the Liverpool striker couldn't direct the ball into the back of the net for Klopp's side
Klopp sent on striker Daniel Sturridge (centre left) and Adam Lallana in the second half, looking for the opening goal at Newcastle
Georginio Wijnaldum (right) skips past the challenge of England right back Nathaniel Clyne at St James' Park on Sunday
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet collects the ball under the challenge of Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse during the Premier League clash
McClaren tries to encourage his players as Newcastle put in a resolute performance against the in form LIverpool side
Wijnaldum celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the evening as Newcastle managed to defeat Liverpool 2-0 on Sunday
Sturridge reflects at the centre circle as the Liverpool striker failed to find the back of the net during the 2-0 away loss
Newcastle boss McClaren is delighted with match winner Wijnaldum (right) at the final whistle at St James' Park
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3348297/Newcastle-2-0-Liverpool-Steve-McClaren-gets-formula-right-resolute-men-secure-vital-victory-courtesy-Martin-Skrtel-s-goal-Georginio-Wijnaldum-s-deft-chip.html#ixzz3taV3t41B
