‘Mistake’ - Newcastle United player ratings v Liverpool as 6/10s make costly error in self implosion - gallery

Jordan Cronin
·3-min read
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the team's first goal to equalise during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St. James Park on August 27, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the team's first goal to equalise during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St. James Park on August 27, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Newcastle United surrendered a 1-0 lead against 10-man Liverpool to lose 2-1 after Darwin Nunez’s late brace.

Eddie Howe named an unchanged starting XI from last weekend’s defeat at Manchester City and the opening day win over Aston Villa as the Magpies head coach resisted the temptation to start Harvey Barnes over Anthony Gordon.

And it was a decision that paid off 25 minutes in when Gordon pounced on Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s mistake before slotting the ball past Alisson. Moments later, the game switched further in United’s favour when Virgil van Dijk was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Alexander Isak.

Flapped at a couple of early crosses and looked nervy at times. Didn’t have too many saves to make but could do nothing about Nunez’s brace.
Flapped at a couple of early crosses and looked nervy at times. Didn’t have too many saves to make but could do nothing about Nunez’s brace.

Newcastle played an hour with a man advantage but self impolded in the closing stages. Nunez, a 77th-minute substitute, scored twice inside the remaining 10 minutes. Here’s our Newcastle United player ratings from the loss.

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Sloppy in possession early on but settled as the game progressed. Carried the ball forward well and brought an air of calmness to the defence but it self imploded.
Sloppy in possession early on but settled as the game progressed. Carried the ball forward well and brought an air of calmness to the defence but it self imploded.
Composed and comfortable in possession, but you’d expected nothing less from the Swiss, even if on the losing side.
Composed and comfortable in possession, but you’d expected nothing less from the Swiss, even if on the losing side.
Mis-placed a couple of passes in the first-half. Excellent last-ditch challenge to deny Salah on 67 minutes but let Nunez go for Liverpool’s equaliser. A rare mistake.
Mis-placed a couple of passes in the first-half. Excellent last-ditch challenge to deny Salah on 67 minutes but let Nunez go for Liverpool’s equaliser. A rare mistake.
Was handed the difficult task of going up against Salah but stuck to it well. Moved into centre-half late on as Liverpool found a late winner.
Was handed the difficult task of going up against Salah but stuck to it well. Moved into centre-half late on as Liverpool found a late winner.
Heavily involved in the first half but his impact faded after the break. Conceded possession in the build up to Nunez’s winner.
Heavily involved in the first half but his impact faded after the break. Conceded possession in the build up to Nunez’s winner.
Didn’t quite reach the levels of his St James’ Park debut but put in a solid enough showing. Battled well.
Didn’t quite reach the levels of his St James’ Park debut but put in a solid enough showing. Battled well.
A warrior in the second half and he tracked back and cut out a number of Liverpool’s attack. His effort didn’t warrant being on the losing side.
A warrior in the second half and he tracked back and cut out a number of Liverpool’s attack. His effort didn’t warrant being on the losing side.
Hit the crossbar and post but still felt he was wasteful in the final third.
Hit the crossbar and post but still felt he was wasteful in the final third.
Played a decisive part in the game. Capitalised on Alexander-Arnold’s mistake to open the scoring and ran the Liverpool full-back ragged. Found space in central areas.
Played a decisive part in the game. Capitalised on Alexander-Arnold’s mistake to open the scoring and ran the Liverpool full-back ragged. Found space in central areas.
Important contribution to draw the foul from Van Dijk which resulted in the Liverpool captain being sent off. Struggled to impact the more, though.
Important contribution to draw the foul from Van Dijk which resulted in the Liverpool captain being sent off. Struggled to impact the more, though.
Occupied the Liverpool centre-backs. Had a couple of shots blocked.
Occupied the Liverpool centre-backs. Had a couple of shots blocked.
Got in good position but didn’t deliver. Poor decision-making from a breakaway with Wilson free in the middle.
Got in good position but didn’t deliver. Poor decision-making from a breakaway with Wilson free in the middle.
Added energy to the midfield.
Added energy to the midfield.
Elliot Anderson (on for Joelinton, 82) - N/A
Elliot Anderson (on for Joelinton, 82) - N/A
Matt Targett (on for Botman, 87) - N/A
Matt Targett (on for Botman, 87) - N/A