Liverpool faced Newcastle away in the Premier League. With right-back Frimpong injured and Bradley and Gomez only recently recovered, Szoboszlai was selected to fill in. Due to Mac Allister's injury, Jones replaced him at left defensive midfield, while Gravenberch returned to the right defensive midfield position. The rest of the lineup remained unchanged from the previous match.
The formation and tactics remained largely unchanged from the previous match. Newcastle, known for their physical style of play, were even more fired up than usual due to home advantage and the Isak incident. The referee's leniency towards Newcastle's fouls and double standards against Liverpool made it extremely difficult for Liverpool to maintain possession and pass the ball effectively.
Newcastle dominated midfield, but substitute striker Gordon, despite his efforts, lacked finishing ability and squandered several clear chances. Liverpool capitalized through Gakpo's left-wing passes to the edge of the penalty area, with Gravenberch and Ekitiké each firing long-range shots into the far corner to secure a two-goal lead.
Despite Gordon's red card just before halftime, Newcastle maintained their high-intensity approach. Liverpool players visibly held back to avoid injuries, compounded by the referee's continued reckless awarding of free kicks to Newcastle, placing immense pressure on Liverpool's defense. Kerkez's height disadvantage led to the first goal, while Konate's poor aerial challenge resulted in the second. After equalizing, Newcastle maintained relentless pressure. Slot opted to attack further, substituting Jones and Gakpo for Elliot and Ngumoha. Earlier, Wirtz and Ekitiké had already been replaced. Bradley shifted to right-back, Szoboszlai reverted to attacking midfield, and Chiesa came on as a center-forward, reverting to a more traditional formation. Chiesa dropped deep as a center forward, drawing an opposing defender out of position. He then played the ball out wide to Salah on the right flank. Salah delivered a cross into the center of the box, where Szoboszlai made a run into the area. Facing a defender, he chose to let the ball roll past him, allowing the unmarked Ngumoha to slot home the winner.
Securing victory in this grueling match without any players leaving injured was truly remarkable. The team's usual tactics proved difficult to execute against the opposition's aggressive fouls, making tactical analysis less significant in this context.
The upcoming home match against title rivals Arsenal is crucial. Mac Allister's potential return from injury could significantly impact the lineup. Jones is likely to start, with either Bradley or Szoboszlai at right-back. Personally, I believe Roberson remains the more reliable option at left-back. The rest of the lineup should remain unchanged. The formation and approach will likely lean more offensive. With home advantage, the chances of victory appear favorable.