How the Reds bit back & hit Newcastle for SIX

AFTER a turbulent week for LFC everyone was wondering how Liverpool would approach the game against Newcastle now that Luis Suarez is unavailable for selection until October.

LFC were a wounded animal and they were rewarded by putting in the best performance under Brendan Rodgers and fully deserved the three points.

Teams

Liverpool were forced to make one change with Daniel Sturridge coming in for Luis Suarez. Other than that it was the same personnel that played against Chelsea last Sunday, with Philippe Coutinho playing in a more advanced role in behind Sturridge.

As for Newcastle, Alan Pardew set his team up in a 4-5-1 formation especially after losing the previous home game to rivals Sunderland 3-0. Tiote replaced Yoan Gouffran.

Liverpool came out of the blocks similar to the way we played Chelsea and set the pace very quickly.

Coutinho bamboozles Newcastle defence

Coutinho showed his class throughout the match and I was amazed by how much space Newcastle allowed him to have.

An example of this was only after two minutes when he released a wonderful pass down the right for Glen Johnson whose low cross won the first corner which led to the opening for Daniel Agger’s goal.

If Coutinho continues to show flashes of brilliance, his LFC career will flourish. His majestic pass to Sturridge through the middle split the Newcastle defence which allowed Daniel to roll the ball to Henderson for the second goal.

Even for his small frame he won possession off Ben Arfa like he wasn’t even there, ran forward, produced fantastic skill with a stepover then flicked the ball into Sturridge who made it 3-0.

The only thing missing from his performance was a goal which his play deserved and he was very unlucky not to have scored when his shot was palmed onto the crossbar by Newcastle keeper Elliott.

Before Coutinho had started a game for the Reds this season they averaged 1.19 accurate through-balls per game; since the Brazilian has started, Liverpool average 2.44 per game. The former Inter Milan player threaded three accurate through balls against the Geordies; the Premier League’s best player for this skill (Santi Cazorla) averages 0.9 per game.
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Lucas played his part

Credit must be given to Lucas. The Brazilian had more touches (103) and played more passes (79) than any other player on the pitch, helping to knit Liverpool’s play together from deep, breaking up and starting attacks. In doing so, he allowed his teammates around him to go forward with great ease.

Lucas attempted an incredible eleven tackles against the Magpies, missing out on the record for the Premier League this season by just one. Coincidentally, the record (which is held by Pablo Zabaleta) was achieved at St James Park.

Henderson proving his team selection

Much has been said about Jordan Henderson and whether he warrants a starting berth since he joined us last summer. This season, especially since Joe Allen’s injury, he has proved through his work rate, his movement, midfield engine and goal scoring that he now deserves a starting place.

Again on Saturday Jordan demonstrated his value for the team by being involved in scoring two goals and setting up another.

The diagram below shows how important he has become in the Reds midfield.

The Reds are unbeaten (winning six and drawing one) in the seven games when the former Mackem has found the net.

He has now scored or assisted a goal every 142 minutes.

Sturridge vital to Reds progress

Daniel showed again what he is capable of doing in a Red shirt by scoring and assisting a goal for the second game in a row, and for the third time in just eight Premier League starts for Liverpool.

One thing that he must work on though is to pass the ball more to teammates if they are in a better position. At times he was slightly greedy when there was a better option around him.

Overall a positive performance from him.

Final Thoughts

A comprehensive victory for Liverpool and the team proved that they are able to perform without Suarez. Hopefully this will continue against rivals Everton next weekend. Ten different players had a shot and/or created a chance for the Reds on Saturday, with six scoring and/or assisting a goal. Total football!

The clean sheet secured at St James Park means the Reds have now shut out their opponents in fourteen league games this season, the second most in the division. That’s already two more than last season, and the same in total as the season before. Pepe Reina now has five clean sheets in his last seven league appearances.

This was only the second league game that Luis Suárez has missed this season (the other being the 3-2 win at West Ham) and remarkably Liverpool have scored nine goals from seven different scorers in those two games. The Reds are now unbeaten in their last five league games, and only eleven of the other ninety-seven teams in Europe’s big five leagues can currently better that. Liverpool have now won nine league games by three-or-more goals this season, more than any other team in the division (Arsenal have won the second most, with six).

As for Newcastle they were woeful and never really got going at all. Only for a chance for James Perch (which he should of put in the onion bag) in the first-half and for a 5 / 10 minute spell in the second-half when Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran were introduced at half-time.

Alan Pardew has a lot of work to do with his team defensively. They only attempted 19 tackles in the whole game. The defensive unit as a whole was nervous and completely out of its depth which was evident with all 6 goals they conceded. They must pick themselves up for when they face relegated QPR next weekend to ease their relegation fears.

Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG
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