Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has just announced the Newcastle team for the game at Anfield this afternoon – in the late kickoff game and Rafa has made some unexpected changes.
As expected in comes Mikel Merino for the injured Jonjo Shelvey but both Jacob Murphy and Christian Atsu have been named on the wings.
Matt Ritchie and Ayoze Perez drop to the bench for this game – so that’s 3 changes for the game today.
TEAM NEWS: Here’s how Newcastle United will line up at @LFC in the @premierleague today (kick-off 5:30pm GMT). #NUFC pic.twitter.com/PbQxMD5GhW
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 3, 2018
Jurgen Klopp and Rafa Benitez – in this fixture two years ago
This is what Rafa has said about the game at his press conference yesterday:
“I think the team were doing well against Bournemouth. And watching the game on the video, it was a pity because we had so many chances to score the third goal and finish the game.”
“But we didn’t do it. What we have to do is learn from that.”
“We were watching what we did well, what we could improve in attack and what we have to improve in defence and to be sure that we manage this type of game better when we are winning 2-0.”
“We know that when we played Liverpool here, they had possession but the pace to play on the counter-attack.”
“It is not like we can control the game by passing the ball because as soon as they regain, they are really good.”
“You saw against Porto in the Champions League, the way they were playing on the counter attack.”
“But then when they have the ball, the way they pass the ball, the pace and the ability they have, it is so difficult that you have to have this confidence coming from the game against Manchester United and the first half against Bournemouth.”
Howay The Lads!!
We need another miracle.
Comments welcome.
254 comments so far
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:01 PM
Comment #81Lejeune having a very solid game. Best of our lot so far.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:02 PM
Comment #82Kenedy and Murphy looking lost out on the left. Need much more from them.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:02 PM
Comment #83Great ball from Yedlin and Gayle fails to make the most of it.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:03 PM
Comment #84Shocking by Gayle. Just leaving that corner.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:04 PM
Comment #85Dummett got Salah’s number again!
Diame trying too much in a tight space there, very hit and miss from him so far. Few good passes and touches and a few heavy to offset them.
manxpie
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:04 PM
Comment #86Lejuene is improving every game his injury mustve taken quite a bit out of him earlier as i thought he was a bit of a lump
Dummett again not letting him past him
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:04 PM
Comment #87To be fair to Gayle he looks like he’s up for it. Just doesn’t have the ability to play on his own up there.
Dubravka doing his best impression of Darlow today 🙁
manxpie
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:05 PM
Comment #88Lucky there please dont have another flappy keeper
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:05 PM
Comment #89Wrong call with Gayle offside ffs.
JP...from The Rock
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:05 PM
Comment #90If we keep our shape we could perhaps nick a point. Need to keep it up for the full 90+ minutes though. So far considering Liverpool’s attacking threat we’ve done well.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:06 PM
Comment #91That’s what I love seeing Diame do, bearing down on the opponent and pinching it to spring the counter.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:07 PM
Comment #92Van Dijk the complete CB. If only we’d got him but of course Ashley knew best.
Lindisfarne
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:07 PM
Comment #93This is going great, 541 and L’pool not looking likely.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:08 PM
Comment #94I used to bang on about Van Dijk before he moved to Southampton and post ‘Dennis Wise’ Youtube scouting vids. Ah well.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:09 PM
Comment #95What’s the plan now?
bettyswallocks
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:09 PM
Comment #96There’s only Merino that looks like he can find some time and space to play a meaningful pass. The other lads are just panicking and hoofing.
Jib
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:10 PM
Comment #97Sorry that looked offside to me
RobLeenio
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:10 PM
Comment #98Crap – but I always thought we’d concede at some point. Just need to stay competitive, not let our heads drop
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #99There is immense frustration in watching a team well drilled and working hard, only to be let down by their lack of quality.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #100Just don’t conceded right before the interval, can’t take another one of those this season.
As I’m typing they get a break and score a simple goal.
FFS! Can’t keep concentration levels and work rate up 100% of the time. Lost shape and that’s it.
JP...from The Rock
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #101How on earth could we leave Salah acres of space there!? Of all players we leave HIM open!
Oh well game over.
Jib
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #102Nah
seen the replay
just onside
good goal
ilovetoon8788
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #103Diame got skinned there.. Ox just went round him. It was good while it lasted. No way back against this Liverpool team. That’s that then.
RUNAWAY777
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Comment #104Don’t think atsu and diema are playing great and merino is hit and miss .
ilovetoon8788
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:13 PM
Comment #105I’ve always written this game off. So who cares. But Huddersfield and Southampton are a must win game now.
Lindisfarne
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:13 PM
Comment #106I should have kept my mouth shut.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:13 PM
Comment #107Such a poor goal to concede. One fortunate ricochet and they’re through. Frustrating as hell.
JP...from The Rock
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:14 PM
Comment #108We can’t help but lump it long aimlessly over and over again. Now that we’re losing we need more than that!
toon kk
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #109Good 40 minutes effort by our lads but it was just a matter of time before they scored.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #110Merino needs time, and he doesn’t get it in the Prem. everything we do is frantic and uncontrolled. We don’t look like scoring at all, which is the main critisicim of this set up.
Yet we played like this vs City and were much more effective after the break, so have to hope we can do the same.
willowdalerez
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #111Dubravka really should have stopped that but this game is far from over.
Let’s go lads!
peterk3
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #112Atsu’s done nowt and Murphy not much better. Hard luck Diame.
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #113What an effort by Diame on his left. So unlucky not to score.
JP...from The Rock
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Comment #114Good shot Diame! Unlucky
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:16 PM
Comment #115OOOF
See we can play, almost a blinder of a team goal from Diame.
Jib
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:17 PM
Comment #116I tell you what
on the replay of Salah’s goal
Martin D nearly saved it
Dagwoodz
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:17 PM
Comment #117We aren’t doing horrible, but we are gifting them possession too often in the middle of the park. Clean that up just a little and it will hopefully be a better 2nd half for us.
manxpie
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:17 PM
Comment #118Great play great save much better
Geremi's Prosthetic Leg Fund
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:17 PM
Comment #119Not the worst half by any means but we need an extra gear if we are to get anything.
Hail Wor Ashley
Mar 3, 2018 at 6:18 PM
Comment #120A bit of cause for encouragement at the end of the half there. Spirit not broken.