Visualized: Liverpool 3-2 Newcastle

Previous Match Infographics: Barcelona (a), Huddersfield (h), Cardiff (a), Porto (A), Chelsea (h), Porto (h), Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Fulham (a), Bayern Munich (a), Burnley (h), Everton (a), Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



I feel like I have written a lot of this before.

Once again, we've got full-back assists, two from Alexander-Arnold to go level with Andy Robertson: 11 in the Premier League, 13 in all competitions.

2 - Liverpool are the first team in Premier League history to have at least two defenders provide 10+ assists each in a single campaign (Trent Alexander-Arnold 11 & Andy Robertson 11). Outlets. #NEWLIV pic.twitter.com/2NaayZJAen

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 4, 2019

Incidentally, ten of Alexander-Arnold's 13 assists have come in the last 14 matches, since his three against Watford at the end of February.

Once again, we've got goals from crosses: both assists from Alexander-Arnold as well as Shaqiri's free kick delivery for Origi's late winner.

We've got set play goals: Van Dijk's opener from a corner, the aforementioned winner from a free kick. Even Liverpool's second could have been classified as one, with just two passes following a throw-in. Those were Liverpool's 22nd and 23rd set play goals of the season;

And we've got late goals. Liverpool winning a match in the last 15 minutes. As against PSG, Everton, United, Palace, Fulham, Tottenham, and Southampton. Four of those have come in the last month and a half.

Once again, we've got Liverpool doing a lot of what Liverpool intended to do, and it's a reasonable amount of good, and it's enough to win. It's Liverpool's eighth league win in a row, to return to the top of the league at least until City host Leicester in a few hours.

But. There was a fair amount of NOT GOOD as well. Almost too much. Thankfully, only almost.

Liverpool conceded twice in a league match, for just the fourth time this season. 1-2 City. 4-3 Palace, 4-2 Burnley, and now this. Which, hey, just four times! But also, it's Newcastle, and three of the four have happened in the second half of the season, with two in the last two months. Against Burnley (15th place) and Newcastle (14th). Not ideal.

Liverpool were out-shot for first time in the league since the 1-1 West Ham draw in early February. This was just the fourth time in 37 league matches that's happened this season, along with this, the 1-2 loss at City, and the 1-0 win over Huddersfield (yeah, your guess is as good as mine).

Divock Origi's goal – in the 86th minute – was Liverpool's only shot after Rondon's equalizer. 40 minutes of action. A tie game, a game you need to win. One shot, from a set play. That's not usually a recipe for winning a match you've given up two equalizers in.

And said winner came from a free kick that Liverpool were fortunate to win, with Fabinho falling under little to no contact, even if he was arguably fouled a few steps before hurling himself to the carpet. And Origi's header went in off Lascelles, on-target but unlikely to beat Dubravaka without the redirection.

That free kick and winner weren't the only times that Liverpool were fortunate. Liverpool were incredibly lucky that Atsu scored in the 20th minute, preventing Alexander-Arnold's dismissal when he handled the earlier shot on the goal line. And that Perez hit the woodwork less than two minutes before Salah scored.

It wasn't the first time Liverpool have been lucky this season. It wasn't the first time that Liverpool have won ugly.

I do not care. By any means necessary.

Liverpool had not won a Premier League away game following a European away game under Jürgen Klopp since this most recent run.



Two losses – bad losses – following Europa League away matches in 2015-16, a late collapse and a thorough B-Team stomping. A draw and two losses following Champions League away matches last season. Three consecutive away league wins following three Champions League away matches this season, over these last two months of Liverpool madness.

It is May 6. There is one game left in Liverpool's league campaign, having already achieved the club's record points total. Liverpool were without Firmino, without Keïta, Salah going off through concussion. Liverpool's starting XI featured seven players who've already got more than 3000 minutes under their belts this season, with Henderson and Fabinho not far behind. I do not care that Liverpool did not dominate. I do not care that Liverpool needed to win ugly. All that matters is that Liverpool won. Again.

Back over to you, City.

Visualized: Liverpool 4-0 Newcastle

Previous Match Infographics: Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



It is getting harder to write something different about each Liverpool match. Because Liverpool keep doing what they're supposed to do, and increasingly effectively. We've seen the blue print for more than a month, and Liverpool keep executing it.

First half goal, from a set play. Liverpool have scored 13 set play goals so far this season – with all of them coming in the league. 13 of 43 league goals – 30.2%, a vastly higher proportion than in Klopp's previous seasons; for comparison, Liverpool only scored 20 of 135 goals in all competitions from set plays last season.

Liverpool are surprisingly good at the set plays.

This time, Lascelles can't fully clear Robertson's cross from a short corner and Dejan Lovren lashes it like Dejan Lovren's only dreamed about lashing it, on the half volley into the roof of the net at approximately 800 miles an hour.

1-0 at halftime, in control of the game but not of the result. Dominance in possession, but not necessarily in shots – with only four following the early goal and three of the four from outside the box – and definitely not in goals. Newcastle pose next to no threat, but not no threat, squandering a clear-cut chance of their own just three minutes before Liverpool scored. It's only 1-0, etc etc.

There have been ten matches where Liverpool have gone into halftime at 1-0 so far this season. Those ten matches have finished 2-0, 1-0, 2-1, 1-0, 4-1, 2-0, 4-0, 1-0, 2-0, and 4-0. Seven games where Liverpool extended their lead, with Liverpool at least holding on for a 1-0 win rather than a draw or loss in the other three. Ten games with ten first half goals, followed by 13 second half Liverpool goals with only two for the opposition, both scored when Liverpool were at least two goals ahead.

As you're well aware, this last match finished 4-0. Salah won a soft penalty, Shaqiri converted a clear-cut chance after sustained pressure, and Fabinho added another from another set play. There's the 13th set play goal of the season, as well as the ninth goal from a Liverpool substitute.

And Liverpool reach the halfway point of the campaign atop the table by six points. Which literally no one expected a month ago, two months ago, four months ago.

At the halfway point, this is and isn't a different team than last year's Liverpool.



Almost exactly the same goals scored per game on less than one shot fewer per game. Almost exactly the same Expected Goals per game. The opposition keeper's saving almost the exact percentage of shots on-target.

Fearing regression from last season's totals a month or two ago when the attack wasn't fully firing now seems a bit premature.

At the other end of the pitch, a similar amount of opposition shots and shots on-target, and not a ton fewer clear-cut chances allowed per match. There are fewer, though, and the opposition's xG per shot is a lot better for Liverpool.

That goals conceded per game average though. And that goalkeeper save percentage though. I love you, Alisson Becker.

But, wait, you say. It's only been half a season. Fair. There are still 19 more league games to go before anything's accomplished. Liverpool have thrice led the league at Christmas in the last 20 or so years and gone onto etc etc etc etc.

But also.

#LFC last 38 #EPL games
91 points (highest since Dec 1990)
86 scored
22 conceded (fewest since Dec 2007)
+64 goal difference (highest since Feb 1979)
This is an historic run of form under Klopp

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) December 26, 2018

But also.

League table for the last 38 league games. Presented without comment. pic.twitter.com/S3X6QHYbsv

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) December 26, 2018

This is, once again and still, a very impressive side, as they've been for more than a calendar year. At both ends of the pitch. And despite looking a different side for the last few months.

It's safe to say that 4-2-3-1 has become Klopp's preferred formation this season, at least in the majority of games. And there have been stuttered steps, relatively speaking, especially for Liverpool's attackers. But that hasn't been the case in the last few matches. Yes, yes, Burnley and Bournemouth and Fulham and Newcastle, but these are the types of matches where Liverpool's failed in previous campaigns.

Half the season gone, every side in the league played once, and Liverpool's beaten everyone bar City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. And haven't lost to anyone.

Salah's scored in three of the last five games, adding crucial goals against Wolves and Newcastle to a hat-trick at Bournemouth, having also tallied in opening goal against Fulham and Watford last month. Shaqiri's got a better goals and assists per minute return than both Salah and Mané did to start their Liverpool careers. Fabinho's looked increasingly excellent next to Wijnaldum, and now did well as a substitute alongside Henderson. Liverpool continue to have one of the best defenses in the world, featuring one of the best center-backs and one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

It's going great, where it was just good a month or two ago. So great that the good earlier this season felt little more than mediocre.

This one, done. First half of the season, done. But we're all too aware that there's still another half to conquer.

Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle

Previous Match Infographics: West Ham (h), Porto (a), Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Huddersfield (a), Swansea (a), Manchester City (h), Everton (h), Burnley (a), Leicester (a), Swansea (h), Arsenal (a), Bournemouth (a), West Brom (h), Everton (h), Spartak Moscow (h), Brighton (a), Stoke (a), Chelsea (h), Sevilla (a), Southampton (h), West Ham (a), Maribor (h), Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Maribor (a), United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



Why, yes, Liverpool's front three did a bunch of good again.

Mohamed Salah scored again. He now has 32 goals in all competitions this season. He's scored in seven consecutive games.

Sadio Mané scored again. He has 14 goals in all competitions this season, bettering his total from last season. He's scored in three consecutive games; he's got five goals in those three games.

And even though Newcastle kept Firmino off the score sheet, he's still there with an assist and is Liverpool's most creative player in the match. He's at the epicenter of Liverpool's second goal, winning back possession, then getting into position to charge through the middle of the pitch before finding Mané in traffic, but he's also involved in the first without touching the ball – he drops into midfield when it looks as if Henderson and Oxlade-Chamberlain will build possession, and Dummett goes with him, leaving space for Salah and Oxlade-Chamberlain to exploit when given the opportunity.

Once again, it's a very, very good front three. I'm very happy to be able to write this almost every single match. I'm very happy watching them do it almost every single match.

And it's not as if Benitez's Newcastle made it easy for them.

No side has blocked a higher proportion of Liverpool's shots than Newcastle did this season. Chelsea's the only other side to block more than half – nine of 16, barely less than Newcastle – while West Brom's the only other with more than 40% blocked – six of Liverpool's 14.

Liverpool drew both of those matches, 1-1 and 0-0. There were small margins in both – Willian's fluky equalizer, three clear-cut chances either missed or blocked against West Brom – but Liverpool still could only draw in both.

Liverpool won yesterday, by two goals.

It's also worth noting that most of Liverpool's shots were high-value shots. 11 of 14 from the Danger Zone, including both goals. Just two from outside the box, the last two Liverpool shots of the match. Half of Liverpool's efforts in the aforementioned draw against Chelsea came from outside the box.

Liverpool's front three are rolling and Liverpool are incrementally getting better at breaking down sides like these and life is good.

And while there doesn't seem to be a point in writing about Liverpool's defense in a match where the opposition had just 29% possession and just seven shots, Liverpool's defensive improvement needs mentioning.

Four clean sheets in the last six games is good, even if the league opponents in those currently sit 15th, 16th, and 17th.

#LFC have conceded <=38 goals over 38 consecutive league games for the first time since 2nd November 2013.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) March 3, 2018

Yes, Virgil van Dijk has a lot to do with it, even if he's only started in five of the the last 38 league games. As with Mané last year, as with Salah this year, one player can improve a side quite a bit when it's the right player.



Winning everything in the air. Getting rid when need be. A handful of interceptions and tackles. Freeing Lovren to do the things that Lovren's actually good at.

I still can't get over the amount of tackles – both successful and attempted – that Liverpool made in a match where they so dominated the ball.

Liverpool have made more successful tackles in just three other matches this season: 27 against West Ham and at Porto, and 33 against Manchester City. Incidentally, all three of those matches came in the last two months. Incidentally, Liverpool also scored at least four goals in all three of those matches.

Liverpool tackle a lot; only three sides average more successful per game – Huddersfield, Palace, and Stoke. No side has a better tackling success rate – 67.0% of Liverpool's are successful, Tottenham's second with 66.8%.

Of course, it's not the center-backs doing the tackling.



Midfielder, Midfielder, Full-back, Full-back, Full-back, Midfielder, Forward, Midfielder, Center-back, Full-back.

It shouldn't be the center-backs doing the tackling. Not in this system. The center-backs have improved, and subsequently, the defense has improved, but it's a team-wide defense. Including the goalkeeper – who once again made a crucial save with the game in the balance.

Update:

- 9 saves with a one-goal lead
- 5 with the score tied
- 1 while trailing by a goal
- 2 with a lead of 2+

16 of 18 with the result in the balance https://t.co/sVWy9YE1BQ

— Alex Mansfield (@el_mansfield) March 3, 2018

And everyone's doing their jobs.

Liverpool are allowing about as many shots in the last five league matches as they had in the 24 before: a little less than eight per game. But the shot quality's fallen off a cliff. Through the first 24 league matches, Liverpool opponents averaged 0.123 Expected Goals per non-penalty shot. That's high. That's way too high. In the last five matches, that average has dropped to 0.079 xG per shot allowed.

Six of Newcastle's seven shots on Saturday came from outside the box. The only one from inside the box was from a corner, in the 77th minute with Liverpool already 2-0 up.

And, at the same time, Liverpool has been even more dangerous at the other end. 0.115 xG per shot through the first 24 league games, 0.147 xG per shot through the last five. Better chances and more goals for that ravenous front three.

It's all coming together. And at a very good time to do so.

Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle

Goals:
Salah 40'
Mané 55'

Something something something Liverpool's attack is really good.

Playing against Rafa Benitez sides can be really frustrating. Liverpool hadn't beaten any of his sides coming into this game: two losses against Valencia 15 years ago, then three consecutive draws against Chelsea and Newcastle. His sides are always well-organized, and playing five at the back made it even worse.

That's it's barely above freezing and also windy certainly doesn't help.

So, we were gonna see even more Liverpool possession than usual, but we were also gonna see fewer Liverpool chances than usual, especially good chances. There would be chances – because this Liverpool side – just not as many as we'd like. And it'd be up to Liverpool to take them – something the side usually does, something the side failed to do against Everton, West Brom, and Swansea.

Yes, it took awhile to click. Mané can't control Alexander-Arnold's cross when it surprisingly falls to him in the fifth minute. Salah doesn't take the first-time shot and is closed down in the 28th. Can's set play header loops over in the 16th, Lovren's set play headers are saved and blocked in the 27th.

But this attack's gonna get its. And Mohamed Salah's gonna get his. Oxlade-Chamberlain picks up possession in midfield with the sides transitioning; van Dijk's intercepted a goal kick, but Murphy's nearly pressed Henderson into losing possession, but it's fallen kindly for Oxlade-Chamberlain. And he's away, away where he's at his best, driving at a retreating, not-yet-set defense, charging to the top of the box before finding Salah, who fires a shot through Dubravka's legs, hitting a thigh but still accurately enough to go in.

It's the seventh consecutive game with a Mo Salah goal. It's the 19th league game he's scored in, out of the 28th he's played. No Liverpool players have scored in more than 19 Premier League games in a season and only Suarez in 2013-14 and Fowler in 1994-95 and 1995-96 have scored more Premier League goals than Mo Salah in a season and it's barely March.

It's almost not fair.

And, 15 minutes and halftime later, it's even more not fair, with that one flowing, jaw-dropping, pants-erasing move that Liverpool seems to get at least one of every game. It looks like more of the patient possession we've seen when Firmino regains the ball in midfield, but Mané plays pivot when Oxlade-Chamberlain looks forward, to Can, to Firmino, and now we're away and now Firmino's slipped the ball through two defenders for Mané and now Mané's absolutely thwacked it into the goal. Woof.

There could have been more. There should have been more – with one penalty shout and a last-man, maybe-inside-maybe-outside-the-box shout ignored in the final minutes of the match. But Liverpool didn't need more at that end of the pitch.

At the other end, there was going to be little on offer from Newcastle. But Liverpool would have to be diligent and decisive in few moments that could have been. Concentration levels – rarely Liverpool's forte! – would have to stay high in the icy cold. Dwight Gayle's tortured Liverpool before. Set plays happen. Flukes happen.

But Virgil van Dijk continues to make a massive difference in defense: more comfortable playing this high line, winning everything in the air, shouting out directions and organizing the back line both in and out of possession. And Lovren has been much more competent when playing with a partner who does all of those things. After some early struggles with van Dijk's adaptation, this is now four clean sheets in Liverpool's last six games – the only exceptions that Tottenham game which we're still not talking about and West Ham's consolation with Liverpool already three-up last week.

And, the one time that Newcastle actually got around those guys and tested Loris Karius, Karius was more than equal to it, denying Diame's fierce spinning effort just before halftime. As he did against Arnautovic last week. As he did on Højbjerg's clear-cut chance and a couple of headers at Southampton with Liverpool 1-0 up three weeks ago.

It's a game-changing save. It's not the first game-changing save he's made during this run.

After waiting a year for a 2-0 win, we've now seen two in the last three league matches. And the two were a lot alike. Sure, Southampton were a lot more threatening than Newcastle, both because of their talent up front and being at home rather than away. But a Liverpool side not at its most frightening had enough up front and at the back to get the win. They've got those three players up front, they've got an increasingly coherent defense and midfield. And as the game winds down with no more Liverpool goals, we're not especially fearful, even knowing what happened with two-goal leads before.

We've seen more emphatic performances – quite a few of them. We'll see more emphatic performances. But it's competent and professional and job done. And it's three more points.

Liverpool v Newcastle 03.03.18

12:30pm ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
1-1 (a) 10.01.17
2-2 (h) 04.23.16
0-2 Newcastle (a) 12.06.15
2-0 Liverpool (h) 04.13.15

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 4-1 West Ham (h); 5-0 Porto (a); 2-0 Southampton (a)
Newcastle: 2-2 Bournemouth (a); 1-0 United (h); 1-1 Palace (a)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Salah 23; Firmino 13; Coutinho, Mané 7; Can, Oxlade-Chamberlain 3; Sturridge 2; Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Klavan, Lovren, Matip, Wijnaldum 1
Newcastle: Gayle 5; Joselu 4; Lascelles 3; Atsu, Ayoze, Clark, Diame 2; Hayden, Merino, Mitrovic, Murphy, Ritchie, Saivet 1

Referee: Graham Scott (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Karius
Trent A-A Lovren van Dijk Robertson
Alex O-C Henderson Wijnaldum
Salah Firmino Mané

We'll see more changes when Liverpool host Porto on Tuesday, thanks to the 5-0 aggregate scoreline. There will be fewer changes than you except – don't hold your breath on Ben Woodburn, for example – but more than there should be for tomorrow's match.

So, with an almost full complement of players, we get the usual lineup questions. Right-back: Alexander-Arnold, for the fourth successive match; Gomez; or maybe even Clyne, after completing 90 minutes with the u23s earlier this week? Center-back: Matip or Lovren? And who from Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Lallana will start in midfield?

Emre Can is a yellow card away from a two-game suspension, and will be until he picks up one more card or we make it to April. Admittedly, the former seems much more likely. But I'd appreciate waiting until the United match for that to happen. So, unless Henderson's still dealing with those usual minor injuries, it should be Can as the deepest midfielder.

I'm also in favor of playing Wijnaldum – even though both Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain have been better in the link role that Wijnaldum usually plays – simply because he'll be going against his former club. I am always in favor of playing players against the former club, unless that player's name rhymes with Lejan Dovren.

Which means Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, or Lallana for the other midfield spot. Let's guess Oxlade-Chamberlain – for his pressing, his running with the ball, his ability in tight spaces, as shown in the second half against West Ham. Milner – who's probably in the best form of any of Liverpool's midfielders (I know, right?!) – will be needed against Porto, in what'll probably be a younger side, while a 5-0 lead in a second leg also seems an okay time for Lallana's first start in ages.

Meanwhile, Newcastle. Unbeaten in their last four! A 1-0 win over Manchester United three weeks ago!

Both of those statements are true. Both of those statements need a little more explication.

Newcastle's last match, a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, saw the hosts overturn a 2-0 deficit in the last ten minutes of the match. I mean, come on – who gives away a two-goal lead at Bournemouth? That 1-0 win against United required some amazing saves from Dubravka on his debut, as well as a fair few defensive blocks. A soft and unnecessary penalty led to the 1-1 draw with Palace, while the other was another 1-1 draw with free-falling Burnley.

Newcastle remain just one point and goal difference clear of the relegation zone, one of nine (!!!) teams currently between 24 and 27 points.

But that 1-0 win over United is probably the template. Deny, deny, deny. Then, set piece goal. Then more denials. For all the good Liverpool have done over the last few months, a match playing out in that manner remains the fear.

So my best guess is tomorrow's XI will look a lot like that XI. Dubravka; Yedlin, Lejeune, Lascelles, Dummett; Ritchie, Hayden, Diame, Kenedy; Ayoze; Gayle. The only difference is that Jonjo Shelvey is injured – and I'm still not sure whether that's a good or bad thing – as are Slimani and Gamez.

But Newcastle could play five at the back, which they've done in a handful of games this season, more often than not against "top" opposition, especially now that Ciaran Clark is back from injury. Newcastle will play whichever way that Benitez thinks will best limit Liverpool. If you hadn't heard, Rafa Benitez is pretty good at organizing his sides, at the absolute least.

And Liverpool haven't beaten Newcastle since Benitez took over, with two draws in the last two matches, preceded by a 2-0 loss at St. James Park when McClaren was manager. Newcastle remain one of two league sides that Klopp is yet to beat – along with Manchester United (in league matches only, obviously), who Liverpool will face in the subsequent league match.

As the United win is Newcastle's template, so is the last time these sides spoke. A 1-1 draw at St James' Park. A Liverpool opener swiftly followed by a Liverpool concession, featuring both a Liverpool mistake and Liverpool misfortune. And then an hour of frustratedly running into a brick wall, with Liverpool's worst shooting accuracy of the season

But that draw came amidst a run of similar matches. 2-2 Sevilla, 1-1 Burnley, 0-2 Leicester, 1-1 Spartak, 0-0 United. That was the shaky part of the season. This has not been the same Liverpool that we saw in September.

But that doesn't mean it can't happen again. That Bad Liverpool can't happen again. That Rafa Benitez can't happen again. That 1-1 Everton, 0-0 West Brom, 0-1 Swansea can't happen again.

It's been a fun few months with Liverpool scoring and Liverpool actually defending and then Liverpool scoring more and then more. It'd be fun if that continued, but Liverpool have to make it continue. Complacency is the enemy. And Newcastle are in the way.

Visualized: Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle

Previous Match Infographics: Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app.


This was Liverpool's second-lowest shooting accuracy in a league match since the start of last season, behind only the 1-2 loss against Crystal Palace in April. Two shots from 17 – 11.8% accuracy. The two on-target? Coutinho's thunderbolt and Sturridge's clear-cut chance from Clark's defensive error. That's it. One on-target from inside the box, despite 10 shots, despite three clear-cut chances, and it came solely because of an opposition mistake.

This was the only time that Liverpool have had three or more clear-cut chances in a league match but failed to score any of them. Before Saturday, Liverpool had posted at least three clear-cut chances 14 times in league matches since the start of last season. Liverpool's record in those 14 matches was 11W-3D. Liverpool's goals-per-game average in those 14 matches was 3.07. At least Liverpool have maintained that unbeaten record.

Newcastle scored with its first shot on-target from inside the box. As did Watford, Hoffenheim (h), Sevilla, Burnley, and Leicester (League Cup). Six of the ten matches that Liverpool have conceded in this season.

Liverpool went nearly 30 minutes in the second half without taking a shot. With the score still level at 1-1. During a spell where Liverpool had almost 74% possession. Despite – or, arguably, because of – making both formation and personnel changes. Rafa Benitez, everybody. It ain't easy or fun to play his sides on their ground with the game tied, especially in the later stages. Newcastle have conceded more than once in a league match just once this season: 0-2 against Tottenham on opening day, with both Tottenham goals coming after a Jonjo Shelvey red card.

There's no sugar-coating it. This is yet another in a very bad run of games and an even worse run of results. One win in seven, and that win was arguably Liverpool's worst statistical performance aside from the red card shellacking at Manchester City. Liverpool still have at least one costly moment in defense per match, and have added an unbelievable wastefulness in front of goal to that. We're not getting 3-3s and 3-2s, we're getting 1-1s. Three of them in the last five matches.

But Liverpool are still +2 points on last season's equivalent fixtures. Wins against Palace and Leicester where Liverpool lost last season more than cancel out a loss at City where Liverpool drew and draws against Burnley and at Watford where Liverpool won. This was actually a better result than the comparable fixture from last season as well, a loss at Hull.

But Liverpool, despite this horror show run, are just a point behind Chelsea and Arsenal, and two points behind Tottenham.

It is only October, barely October, and it feels if the season may be running out. But it hasn't yet. There are still 31 league matches left, starting against Manchester United in 12 days. As if that fixture could get any more important.

It seems a very good time for an international break. Get away from Liverpool, and Liverpool's issues – which I maintain are issues of confidence and morale more than underlying structural problems. The shots are there, the chances are there. The opposition's aren't. Despite a month's worth of evidence to the contrary, I maintain that Liverpool aren't far away from fixing things. There's gonna be a match where four or five of those chances go in rather than just one – as against Arsenal little more than a month ago. There has to be.

Clear heads, or at least worry about something else for the next two weeks. Both the players, and us.

Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle

Goals:
Coutinho 29'
Joselu 36'

After Spartak:

This has become a parody. Liverpool has become a parody of itself.

After Burnley:

But that it's the same pattern which has frustrated us over the last two seasons ... makes it that much harder to stomach.

After Sevilla:

There's only so much you can say when similar things keep happening again and again and again and again.

Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cold out there today.

We are trapped in an inescapable feedback loop.

Liverpool create chances, mainly in the first 30-45 minutes. But Liverpool don't convert anywhere near enough. They probably get a goal – they've scored in every game except the League Cup loss at Leicester, after all – but not enough, as Liverpool's defense inevitably has a Liverpool's Defense moment.

Again and again and again and again.

Today, a Coutinho goal from Coutinho's spot, his third goal in the last three games. Hurrah! But less than seven minutes later, one defense-splitting pass from Jonjo Shelvey (because of course Jonjo), Liverpool's center-backs flailing and failing on the offside trap, Joselu in. Matip somehow recovers, but his tackle ricochets off Joselu past Mignolet. Because of course it does. Dumb and unlucky, the Liverpool Defense Story.

And the rest of the match is a scramble. The rest is frustration. The rest is not enough.

Do we blame the defense? Once again beaten too easily. Once again beaten unfortunately. Once again beaten despite an almost complete lack of opposition threat.

Or do we blame Liverpool's attack for failing to take those chances, for failing to put possession to use? Dangerous counters breaking down at the feet of Mané and Salah. Wijnaldum hitting the post – the fifth match in the last six where Liverpool have hit the woodwork. Lovren has two efforts cleared off the line from corners (one probably won't go down as a shot, though). Sturridge and Salah fail to convert clear-cut chances in the space of five seconds. Four clear-cut chances: one saved, one blocked on the line, two off-target. Liverpool have had nine clear-cut chances in the last two matches: five at Spartak, four at Newcastle. Liverpool have scored one of them. Incidentally, neither opponent had any.

This fault seems more in players' heads – everyone's heads. This fault has punished Liverpool more in the last two matches, and against Sevilla, and against Burnley. But this fault seems more likely to change with time and luck.

Either way, one feeds the other. And we're caught in the loop.

There were a couple of differences today, so we might as well highlight them.

• Liverpool actually scored first! But then failed to protect the lead, etc etc.

• Klopp did try some different tactical things to change proceedings. First, Mané and Salah switching flanks at the start of the second half, then a 4-2-3-1 formation both before and after substitutions for most of the half. Neither helped. Relatedly, it remains baffling to see Mané and Salah subbed off when Liverpool need a goal, replaced by Solanke and Oxlade-Chamberlain respectively.

• Liverpool put all of two shots on-target today – despite taking 17, despite creating those four clear-cut chances – an absolutely horrific shooting accuracy and far worse than anything we'd seen in the last month.

• Benitez's Newcastle mostly smothered Liverpool in the second half, aside from a Clark error that Sturridge really should have converted, followed immediately by Salah's rebound miss. That and Oxlade-Chamberlain's header over are literally all I remember from the second half, despite something like 75% possession. Possession did not equal control. Newcastle, without threatening until set plays in added time, seemed more in control. But that's Rafa. A compact, well-organized defense that stifled Liverpool all too often and caught Sturridge offside multiple times.

But, otherwise, same old, same old. Again. Dropped points. Again.

I'm close to the point where it stops being painful and is just tiring.

Liverpool at Newcastle 10.01.17

11:30am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
2-2 (h) 04.23.16
0-2 Newcastle (a) 12.06.15
2-0 Liverpool (h) 04.13.15
0-1 Newcastle (a) 11.01.14

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-1 Spartak (a); 3-2 Leicester (a); 0-2 Leicester (a)
Newcastle: 0-1 Brighton (a); 2-1 Stoke (h); 1-0 Swansea (a)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Salah 4; Mané 3; Firmino 2; Coutinho, Henderson, Sturridge 1
Newcastle: Lascelles 2; Atsu, Clark, Joselu, Mitrovic 1

Referee: Craig Pawson (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Trent A-A Matip Klavan Moreno
Wijnaldum Henderson Coutinho
Salah Firmino Mane

September's over. Finally. It's behind us. It's a new month. Let's see a different Liverpool.

As per usual, there will be a couple of changes, but since Liverpool's midweek match was five days ago rather than three or four, I suspect that there will be fewer than we've seen recently.

Mignolet will almost certainly come back into the side. Maybe Gomez will as well, as Klopp's been hesitant to play Alexander-Arnold in consecutive starts. Emre Can wasn't good midweek and we're seeing stories about how Lovren has had to take painkillers to play recently (not great, Bob!).

But I want to see that front three again. I want to see it supplied by Coutinho in midfield. I want to see the full-backs adding width and creativity; Alexander-Arnold, Moreno, Robertson, and Gomez are all capable of doing so, and have demonstrated it in this short season. I'd hope that playing against his former club will cancel out Wijnaldum's away game curse – he has scored at St James' Park in the Premier League, after all.

I want to see Liverpool convert the chances we know they're capable of creating, the chances we saw at Spartak Moscow on Tuesday; that attack has the potential to do all sorts of rude things to Newcastle's midfield and defense. If Firmino can drag not-the-fastest center-backs out of position, if Mané and Salah get behind Yedlin and Mbemba, if we get the forward movement from Coutinho and Wijnaldum/Can, if everyone or anyone can finish like we've seen Liverpool finish in the past. And I hope that the defense simply won't do anything dumb – the Liverpool Serenity Prayer.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are a Rafa Benitez side that's hamstrung by also still being Newcastle. They keep it simple, it starts from defense. A well-coached team, a solid base, a compact side, a 4-2-3-1 formation. Not many scored, but not many conceded either. A team and manager who will know how they want to frustrate an all-too-easily-frustrated-of-late Liverpool. But, unsurprisingly, Rafa spent the first month of the season complaining about the club's lack of summer transfer business. Because of course he did and of course Mike Ashley didn't.

Newcastle had won three in a row prior to a 0-1 loss at Brighton last weekend – beating West Ham, Swansea, and Stoke – and that trip to Brighton was a match they should have at least drawn if not for an inability to finish their many chances. Which may sound vaguely familiar.

Mitrovic is back from suspension, but I still expect we're seeing the same side as against Brighton. Elliot; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba; Hayden, Merino; Ritchie, Perez, Atsu; Joselu. There's a couple of alternatives. Mitrovic. Dwight Gayle, who still gives me shudders from his time at Crystal Palace. Jesus Gamez at left-back as a more attacking option. And, possibly, Jonjo Shelvey; I guarantee he's been pleading with Benitez all week, relishing the chance to play against his former club, but he's been Bad Jonjo far more than Good Jonjo over the last few weeks.

This fixture's given Liverpool problems in recent seasons, under both Klopp and Rodgers, under Pardew, McClaren, and Benitez. Liverpool have failed to win in its last three trips to Newcastle, in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Newcastle are just one of three Premier League sides that Klopp's faced and yet to beat – along with Manchester United and Southampton – following a 2-2 draw at Anfield in April 2016, one of the too-many matches where Liverpool threw away a two-goal lead.

Past cannot be precedent. Not after the September we've seen. It's time for Liverpool to play like Liverpool – the Good Liverpool. The materials are often there, but haven't been put together: sometimes in attack, more often in defense, and every now and then, sadly, in either. The Good Liverpool has been something we haven't seen enough in recent weeks, and something we haven't seen enough against this opposition.

Be good, Liverpool.

Visualized: Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle

Previous Match Infographics: Everton (h), Bournemouth (a), Dortmund (h), Stoke (h), Dortmund (a), Tottenham (h), Southampton (a), Manchester United (a), Manchester United (h), Crystal Palace (a), Manchester City (h), Manchester City [League Cup] (n), Augsburg (h), Augsburg (a), Aston Villa (a), Sunderland (h), Leicester (a), Stoke [League Cup] (h), Norwich (a), Manchester Utd (h), Arsenal (h), Stoke [League Cup] (a), West Ham (a), Sunderland (a), Leicester (h), Watford (a), West Brom (h), Sion (a), Newcastle (a), Swansea (h), Bordeaux (h), City (a), Crystal Palace (h), Rubin Kazan (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Rubin Kazan (h), Tottenham (a), Everton (a), FC Sion (h), Aston Villa (h), Norwich (h), Bordeaux (a), Manchester United (a), West Ham (h), Arsenal (a), Bournemouth (h), Stoke (a)

As always, match data from Stats Zone, except shot location from Squawka and average player position from ESPN FC.


After a month where we'd mostly forgotten all of Liverpool's issues because of those results against United, Dortmund, Stoke, and Everton, it all came rushing back. Two steps forward, one step back.



19 points dropped despite Liverpool having the lead, the most in the Premier League. Seven of nine matches at Anfield. Three matches where Liverpool had a two-goal lead ending in two draws and a loss, against two sides threatened by relegation and one which sits just a point and place below Liverpool. Four matches where a 1-0 lead ended 1-1, which also happened three times in the Europa League and once in the League Cup.

In two of those nine league matches, Liverpool took the lead only to fall behind by a goal, but at least clawed a late point back from both West Brom and Arsenal. To be slightly fairer, Liverpool have gained 11 points from losing positions in the league, coming back from a deficit to beat Chelsea, Norwich, and Crystal Palace in addition to the draws against West Brom and Arsenal.

Incidentally, those three league wins from losing positions all came away from home. Liverpool also came back from a deficit in four Europa League matches (two wins, two draws; three at home and one away) and two League Cup matches (a win and the "draw" in the final which Liverpool eventually lost on penalties, at Southampton and Wembley respectively).

11 points gained from losing positions is certainly better than Liverpool did last season, with all of those points gained from losing positions gained this season coming under Klopp. But it still hasn't made up for the points which Liverpool dropped from winning positions.



The above graphic is the long, pictorial way of saying that Liverpool have been pretty decent when the scores are level. Which is good, because Liverpool have spent a lot of time with the score level. Unfortunately, Liverpool have been a lot less good with a one-goal lead. Which is little surprise given how many times that Liverpool have dropped points this season. 17 of the 62 opposition's goals have been equalizers – 13 of 45 in the league.

And more than a few have come in matches where Liverpool's goalkeeper made an error which directly led to an opposition goal. Mignolet's committed six this season, Bogdan two. And Liverpool won just one of the eight matches where the keeper committed an error: the 2-1 victory over Bordeaux in the Europa League, with goals from Benteke and Milner after Mignolet's blunder led to Saivet's indirect free kick. Bogdan's errors were probably more hilarious than costly: the first in the 0-3 loss at Watford, the Olímpico conceded in the 2-2 at Exeter – matches where Liverpool were losing regardless and a cup tie that Liverpool ending up easily winning on replay respectively.

Mignolet's, unfortunately, are a bit more meaningful. Aside from the 2-1 win over Bordeaux, Liverpool drew the other five matches where he made an error leading to a goal: 1-1 v Norwich, 2-2 v West Brom, 2-2 v Sunderland, 1-1 with City in the League Cup Final, and now 2-2 with Newcastle. Four Premier League matches against sides near the bottom of the table. Liverpool were leading in those four matches when Mignolet committed said error and went on to drop two points. All four of those errors happened at Anfield, with three of the four (all except Norwich) in front of the Kop.

If Liverpool holds onto its lead in those four Premier League matches, Liverpool have eight more points. Don't look at the league table. You don't want to know where eight more points would put Liverpool.

Again, no offense to Newcastle (well, not much), but the opposition doesn't really matter much to yesterday's result. Sure, Newcastle's defense was very Benitez, especially in the second half; Newcastle played without fear in the second half; and Newcastle's second half changes, especially Wijnaldum for Perez, improved the side.

But this is on Liverpool, and it's down to what Liverpool did or didn't do, and what Liverpool's done before in similar situations against similar opposition. We saw this game against Palace, against West Brom, against Sunderland, etc. A stingy, compact defense limits Liverpool's shots. Liverpool usually score at least once, sometimes twice, but Liverpool get comfortable, Liverpool make mistakes, and Liverpool's opponent takes advantage – often on either set plays or counter attacks. If Liverpool don't score in bunches, Liverpool struggle to see out the game.

Liverpool, to put it bluntly, are bad against bad teams at Anfield. In the seven Anfield matches against the bottom seven sides – West Brom, Swansea, Palace, Sunderland, Norwich, Newcastle, and Villa – Liverpool have taken just 10 points from a possible 21. They smashed a horrible Villa; narrowly beat Swansea thanks to Milner's penalty; drew against West Brom, Sunderland, Norwich, and Newcastle despite taking a one-or-two goal lead; and lost on an 82nd-minute set play goal to frequent bete noire Crystal Palace.

There are, of course, extenuating circumstances for Saturday's result. Shit happens in games, even if it seemingly happens too often to Liverpool. It's still Klopp's first, partial season with a squad that's not his own which is missing key players. Sakho's suspension, not known until late on Friday, assuredly altered the XI and game plan. Clyne's illness forced Randall to step in for only his second start. Injuries in midfield kept Stewart in the line-up. Liverpool started with a diamond formation for the first time since the Southampton League Cup win, which featured a very different XI; it's usually only seen as a game-changing alteration and then with Origi playing a crucial role. The spine has been ripped out of the side by Henderson, Can, Sakho, and Origi's absences – four players who'd feature in the middle, near-certain starters, all unable to play.

But we've seen matches like this too often this season. It's easy to blame Mignolet, the defense, the side's focus in general. All are at fault. Liverpool simply need to do better: better in matches with a one-or-two goal lead, better at home, and better against opposition that Liverpool need to be able to beat if they're going to accomplish anything in the league.

Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle

Goals:
Sturridge 2'
Lallana 29'
Cisse 48'
Colback 66'

Remember all the good results over the last month?

No, me neither. Games like this have a habit of bringing out all the pessimism. All I can remember is Sunderland and Southampton, not Dortmund, Stoke, or Everton.

It was all set up to continue the era of good feelings. A fine first half performance with two supremely taken goals from Sturridge and Lallana. Outstanding hold-up play and finish from the striker on the first, outstanding quick passing and a left-footed long-range curler on the second. Liverpool weren't rampant by any means, unable to consistently create chances and scoring from low-percentage strikes, but it still seemed comfortable and still seemed secure.

Multiple Liverpool changes to the starting XI in a different starting formation again didn't seem to diminish the performance that much, this time a 4-4-2 diamond, with Stewart keeping his place in the league, Randall at right-back again, and Toure needed due to Sakho's looming suspension. Liverpool controlled proceedings, Liverpool scored twice, and Newcastle had barely threatened.

Newcastle had scored two goals away from home just once in 2016: at Norwich, a match they still lost 3-2. Newcastle hadn't taken a single point away from home since December 13, losing nine straight.

Did Liverpool relax because they'd thought the game was won at halftime, especially given each side's respective form? Benitez's halftime change – Wijnaldum for Perez – made Newcastle better, but not that much better. Is Liverpool really that fragile? Still? After what we saw over the last month?

All Liverpool needed was for Mignolet to pull a Mignolet, then all hell broke loose. Late to leave his line, completely missing a punch at Anita's lofted cross, an easy header for Cisse up against poor Connor Randall. And from there, tilt. Newcastle, not Liverpool, looking the more likely to score next. The home side struggling to complete passes to each other in the opposition half, let alone the final third. Sturridge denied what appeared a fairly certain penalty, then Newcastle counter-attacking right down Liverpool's throat, failing to score from the opportunity solely because of Cisse's poor touch.

Aside from the penalty claim, Liverpool were unable to conjure anything except a goal rightly ruled out for offside, with Allen's header saved and Firmino a yard behind the last defender on the rebound. And that was in the 59th minute. Not long after, another horror show, another Newcastle fast break through Townsend, his cross headed out to an open Colback, and what should have been an easy save deflected by Lovren past Mignolet. One keeper error, one unfortunate deflection. Three Newcastle shots on-target, two Newcastle goals. It's the bad old days all over again.

Bringing on Coutinho and Lucas for Randall and Allen, then Ojo for Lallana altered little, as Newcastle went full Benitez, Liverpool wholly unable to break through an unsurprisingly compact defense. After 37 shots against Everton, Liverpool took just 13 against Newcastle – just five after Newcastle's equalizer, with only Sturridge's tame header on target. At least Liverpool didn't concede a third? At least it was Sunderland rather than Southampton?

I probably shouldn't be all that bothered about this result. Not after what Liverpool's given us over the last month. Liverpool are in the Europa League semifinals, a competition that's become much more important than the league. Liverpool remain two points off sixth, still capable of qualifying for next season's Europa League if they don't win this season's. Shit happens sometimes.

But shit still happens too often to this side. The defensive (read: goalkeeper) mistakes, the second half goals conceded, the dropped points against sides Liverpool should beat, the dropped points from winning positions.

And that, and today's result, along with the Sakho news, along with the injuries to Henderson, Can, and Origi, has taken an awful lot of the fun out of the last month. Now, Liverpool need to earn it back on Thursday.

Liverpool v Newcastle 04.23.16

10am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
0-2 Newcastle (a) 12.06.15
2-0 Liverpool (h) 04.13.15
0-1 Newcastle (a) 11.01.14
2-1 Liverpool (h) 05.11.14

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 4-0 Everton (h); 2-1 Bournemouth (a); 4-3 Dortmund (h)
Newcastle: 1-1 City (h); 3-0 Swansea (h); 1-3 Southampton (a)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Firmino 9; Coutinho 8; Benteke, Sturridge 7; Origi 5; Lallana 3; Henderson, Ings, Lallana 2; Allen, Can, Clyne, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure 1
Newcastle: Wijnaldum 9; Mitrovic 8; Ayoze 6; Townsend 3; Cisse, Lascelles 2; Anita, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko 1

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Clyne Lovren Sakho Moreno
Milner Stewart
Ojo Lallana Coutinho
Sturridge

Even though Liverpool again had a midweek match – albeit one with fewer exertions than recent Europa League fixtures – I doubt we'll see the same highly-rotated side that featured against Stoke and Bournemouth.

Not only are there five days between this and Villarreal, compared to the usual four, but Liverpool's options are increasingly limited in both midfield and attack with Origi joining Henderson and Can on the casualty list and Benteke still a week or two away from returning (if Benteke even returns).

There will be changes, but not as many as we've come to expect.

As usual, the questions start up front. Can we trust consecutive starts for Sturridge, up front against both Newcastle and Villarreal after 40 minutes against Everton? I think we'll have to. Really, the only other option is reverting to Firmino as false nine, which we haven't seen since the 2-2 draw with Sunderland in early February. At the same time, Firmino's the only player to start the last four games. And he's looked it, failing to impress against either Bournemouth or Everton.

So, my guess is it comes down to just a couple of personnel questions in the familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. Will Milner or Allen partner Stewart or Lucas in midfield? I suspect Allen's more useful off the bench, while Milner's in outstanding form, and I remain skeptical of consecutive starts for Lucas, which would almost certainly lead to three starts in eight days at Villarreal. Will it be Ojo or Ibe in the attacking line of three to give Firmino a break? Ibe was much more impressive against Bournemouth, and also looked good in his short cameo against 10-men very-beaten Everton, but Ojo remains bags of potential and bags of fun, and more capable of playing on the right opposite Coutinho on the left. Maybe there's also a defensive change or two, whether Toure or Skrtel at center-back or Flanagan or Smith at full-back, but that seems less likely.

There's also the small matter of welcoming Rafa Benitez back to Anfield tomorrow, for the second time as an opposition manager. I will remain biased until the end of my days, and still can't help wishing Benitez well, still can't help getting angry at every media and opposition supporter dig. His previous return to Anfield with Chelsea in 2012-13 was, uhhhhh, interesting, with Liverpool twice equalizing after Chelsea goals, the second in injury-time from Luis Suarez after he'd already bitten Branislav Ivanovic.

And there's also the small matter of Newcastle actually playing a bit of decent football in their last two matches – a 3-0 win over Swansea and 1-1 draw against Manchester City – giving them a glimmer of hope in their attempt to avoid relegation. But they need more points, quickly. two points and -1 goal difference from 17th-place Norwich with just four games to play.

They're not yet a Rafa Benitez side, but they've had a few more moments of looking almost like a Rafa Benitez side if you squint hard enough. At least against Manchester City, where an organized side held City at bay for long stretches, equalizing soon after Agüero's very-offside early opener, with a disjointed second half ending as Newcastle the stronger, more-likely-to-win side. Newcastle had lost the last 12 (twelve!) league matches against Manchester City before Tuesday's draw. They'll play compact, deny the opposition space, battle for loose balls, work hard, ugly up the game, and counter-attack every so often. Which is, ideally for them, basically a better organized, more Rafa Benitez version of what we saw when these two sides met in December.

Because there's also the small matter of Newcastle embarrassing Liverpool in the reverse fixture, where absolutely nothing went right – one of those abysmal shooting performances, an own goal from Skrtel, a perfectly good goal from Moreno chalked off, a too-easy counter-attack Newcastle second in added time – which remains one of Liverpool's most disappointing performances and results under Klopp.

However, Newcastle still haven't taken any points away from home – not even a draw – since beating Tottenham (Tottenham!) on December 13. Since then, ten consecutive losses, at West Brom, Arsenal, Watford (FA Cup), Watford, Everton, Chelsea, Stoke, Leicester, Norwich, and Southampton. They've failed to score in six of the ten.

If Newcastle stick with the same XI we've seen in the last two matches, it'll be: Darlow; Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Tiote, Colback; Townsend, Sissoko, Ayoze; Cisse. The only difference between the Swansea win and City draw was Ayoze Perez for Wijnaldum.

I wouldn't been surprised to see Wijnaldum return, but otherwise, Newcastle have few options. Shelvey's all but been excommunicated, Saivet's infrequently featured since joining from Bordeaux, and Mitrovic's been used as a substitute more often than as a starter. They still have massive injury problems in goal and defense, with the top two keepers (Krul and Elliott) out injured, as well as Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Haidara, and Janmaat.

I'm pleased to see Rafa back in the Premier League, and hope he wins every fixture but this one, even if that means Newcastle stay up. But this ain't a testimonial. It'll be a tough match against a side that desperately needs points to avoid relegation versus a side in surprisingly good form, especially at home, and wants to keep it that way. Liverpool need to keep winning, need to keep playing to the level they've hit over the last three weeks, even if there are again multiple changes to the XI. And, not for the first time, Liverpool owe Newcastle.

Visualized: Liverpool 0-2 Newcastle

Previous Match Infographics: Swansea (h), Bordeaux (h), City (a), Crystal Palace (h), Rubin Kazan (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Rubin Kazan (h), Tottenham (a), Everton (a), FC Sion (h), Aston Villa (h), Norwich (h), Bordeaux (a), Manchester United (a), West Ham (h), Arsenal (a), Bournemouth (h), Stoke (a)

As always, match data from Stats Zone, except shot location from Squawka and average player position from ESPN FC.



Yesterday saw Liverpool's worst shooting performance since Klopp became manager. 10 shots are the joint-fewest, along with last week's narrow 1-0 win over Swansea; 10% shooting accuracy is Liverpool's lowest since the 0-3 loss to West Ham back in September. Only Liverpool's match at Tottenham – the other match when Liverpool failed to score, and Klopp's first game in charge – saw fewer Danger Zone shots and a higher percentage of outside-the-box shots.

And it happened against a Newcastle side that averaged 16.93 shots allowed, 5.71 shots on-target allowed, and 2.14 goals conceded through its first 14 league matches. Only Sunderland and Stoke took fewer shots against Newcastle, nine each, but neither side conceded a Newcastle goal. No Premiership side allows more shots per match than Newcastle, no Premiership side concedes more goals than Newcastle (joint-worst along with Bournemouth).

Needless to say, the majority of blame will fall on Liverpool's £32.5m focal point.

• Liverpool Goals per 90 with Benteke as starter: 1.12 (403 minutes)
• Liverpool Goals per 90 with Benteke as a substitute: 3.24 (111 minutes)
• Liverpool Goals per 90 without Benteke: 1.91 (566 minutes)

Yesterday wasn't all Benteke's fault; with Firmino and Ibe in attack, and Milner and Allen in midfield, Benteke had few runners in behind to head on or pass to when Liverpool played it long to him. Which Liverpool did a fair amount. Ibe tries, but Ibe's 19 (for a couple more days) and Ibe's final ball is often not good. But Coutinho, and to a lesser extent, Lallana make those runs. Sturridge and Origi, had Klopp attempted to play Benteke with a strike partner, make those runs. And aside from Manchester City and Southampton (in the League Cup), Liverpool's attack hasn't been all that impressive without Benteke either. But still.

Benteke's passing yesterday:



Benteke's pass recipients yesterday:

• Ibe (6)
• Lucas (3)
• Milner (2)
• Allen (2)
• Clyne (2)
• Skrtel (1)

Ibe, unsurprisingly, was the only player who received forward passes from Benteke. Both of them. Otherwise, backwards or sideways passes to the three midfielders, a full-back, and a center-back.

These three videos from Simon Brundish highlight three moments when Benteke did very not good things, focusing on both his final third movement and (lack of) pressing. And I'm sure there are more examples.

If you're not going to shoot, not going to create, and not going to press, what are you playing for?

Again, Firmino wasn't any better, slightly more involved in the build-up and pressing, but with just one off-target shot and one chance created. Firmino found Benteke with just one (1) pass in 62 minutes of play. For comparison, in 28 minutes, Lallana passed to Sturridge six times, including Liverpool's best (and pretty much only) open play chance in the final half hour.

Both Benteke and Firmino often want to drop into midfield to receive possession; they do different things with the ball once in possession, but want to start from similar locations. Firmino can play differently, as we saw when he led the line against City, surrounded by Coutinho and Lallana, who both got forward and drifted inside from the flanks, who both pressed and hassled and harried City's defense into mistakes.

After this and after Swansea, it's one or the other. Not both. Please not both.

It was a comprehensive failure in attack, from all involved. Credit to Newcastle, who ran more, pressed more, and seemingly "wanted it" more. But this was still much, much more a Liverpool loss than it was a Newcastle win, mainly because of Liverpool's failings in Newcastle's half of the pitch. And it's not as if this is the first time Liverpool have comprehensively failed up front, especially when Benteke, Firmino, and Ibe all start.

All that complaining said...

Losing 2-0 to 1 shot on target and having a legit goal ruled out at 1-0 is the perfect example of "shit happens" in football #lfc

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) December 6, 2015

On a different day, this ends 0-0 or 1-1, and we gripe – rightfully so – but move on. Shit happens in football, to everyone, even if it's seemingly more to Liverpool than others (except Chelsea this season, at least). You are not going to lose many matches when conceding just one shot on-target, even when you play that badly in attack.

Even if it's not the first time Liverpool have been bad in attack, it's one match. One very bad match, with a front six I'd rather not see again. One very bad match, which was all too similar to this fixture last season, which is about the biggest insult you can come up with.

Learn from it. It has, after all, only been 12 matches since Klopp took over, with only seven of them in the league.

After this, coupled with a similar performance from Benteke, Firmino, and Ibe against Swansea, I have to believe it'll be a while before we see an F.B.I. attack again. At least in the league. Liverpool desperately missed Coutinho, Lallana, and Sturridge, and those three (along with Henderson and Emre Can) will assuredly improve Liverpool up front.

That can't come soon enough.

Liverpool 0-2 Newcastle

Goals:
Skrtel OG 69'
Wijnaldum 90+3'

Liverpool had been very good at grinding out results when playing poorly, but that couldn't last. And that didn't last.

The short version: that was a bad match between teams who played badly and I wish I hadn't watched it. It was easily Liverpool's worst performance since Klopp became manager. But had two moments gone slightly differently, Liverpool could have come away with one, if not all three points. And that's not even including Benteke's missed sitter in the 21st minute.

But two moments, unlike against Bournemouth, Kazan, or Swansea, went the way of Liverpool's opponents instead. After 69 minutes of torpor, where neither side (except for that aforementioned Benteke chance) looked remotely like scoring, Wijnaldum, given too much space in the box to receive Sissoko's cross, looked to have put his Danger Zone shot off target. Even had it found the target, Mignolet appeared to have it covered. Instead, it deflected off Skrtel, looping over Mignolet.

Ten minutes later, Moreno appeared to have equalized, a superlative volley from Milner's deep cross. But the linesman incorrectly flagged for offside when, despite being play on by Dummett, the player closest to the linesman.

To be fair, Liverpool deserved nothing from that match. Last match not withstanding, we've complained about Liverpool's continued impotence in attack, and it was at it worst today. But it's not as if Newcastle deserved much more.

Liverpool deployed a 4-2-3-1 for the first time since Crystal Palace, a similar XI to that which narrowly beat Swansea except with Lucas replacing the suspended Can and Allen preferred to Lallana in midfield. And it was very much like that Crystal Palace, except Liverpool didn't even create the chances that Liverpool missed against Palace, and Newcastle are still much worse than Palace.

When three corners in the first two minutes led to nothing, the match devolved into what was, for all intents and purposes, a smoldering tire fire. Liverpool dominated possession, Liverpool did nothing with that possession, Liverpool were unable to string any passes together in attack. Newcastle were just kinda there.

Benteke and Firmino have started together in three matches under Klopp before today's: 1-0 Kazan, 2-1 Bordeaux, and 1-0 Swansea. Sure, Liverpool won, but that had more to do with Liverpool's defense, Liverpool's opponent, and getting those bounces of the ball that Liverpool didn't get today. Because Benteke and Firmino simply haven't gelled yet, and they certainly didn't today.

Those, along with the loss to Crystal Palace, are the four matches that Benteke has started under Klopp, and he's not played particularly well in any of them. Benteke at least had chances against Palace, mainly set up by Coutinho, but couldn't take them. However, he's been much better as a substitute with legs tiring: the two away matches against Chelsea and City, helping to extend and secure Liverpool's led in those impressive away victories.

Those two players' inability to do anything well, or combine in any sort of fashion, clearly isn't the only reason that Liverpool lost. But it's the biggest.

Liverpool had just one first-half chance until added time: when Benteke skied from two yards out after Lovren knocked down Liverpool's fourth corner in the 21st minute. The first open play shot that wasn't blocked came in the extra minute, when Ibe shot just over the bar from outside the box, cutting in from the left. That's not good, especially when you have almost 60% possession and are playing the 19th-placed side.

It's not as if Newcastle were any better – their only chance from a set play as well, in the 44th when Cisse flicked Colback's corner on but Mbemba headed over. But, and not to be rude, that's somewhat expected from Newcastle, even at home, against opposition that had lost just once in the last 17 matches.

It was much of the same to start the second half until substitutions, with Sturridge and Lallana replacing Benteke and Firmino in the 62nd minute. Benteke and Firmino had to go off; they exchanged just one (1) pass in 62 minutes of play. Each managed just one shot, both off-target.

Unfortunately, it didn't change in the manner that Liverpool hoped. With Sturridge and Lallana on instead, Liverpool looked marginally more threatening, even if – surprise! – it didn't led to opportunities in front of goal. But then, Newcastle allowed too much time and possession on Liverpool's left flank, Sissoko's cross, Wijnaldum's space and shot, Skrtel's own goal. Liverpool behind, in a match where they rarely looked like scoring. Behind to a side that had yet to put a shot on target.

Aside from Moreno's "goal," Liverpool managed little response, Newcastle's previously terrible defense now much deeper and still doing just enough. Sturridge pushed a right-footed shot wide from Lallana's wonderful throughball prior to the Moreno controversy, but in the final ten minutes, Liverpool were limited to two Lovren headers: the first off-target, the second straight at Rob Elliot. The second, in the 89th minute, was Liverpool's first shot on-target. I'd suggest you're not going to win, or even draw, many matches when you don't get a shot on-target until there's a minute left in the match, but Newcastle had yet to register one either.

Of course, they soon did, when Wijnaldum finally ended Liverpool's pathetic hopes for an unlikely equalizer in the third minute of extra time. Liverpool's second loss under Klopp, Liverpool's first away loss under Klopp, the first time Liverpool have been behind by two goals under Klopp.

It's easy to criticize the lineup after the fact, from behind a computer screen, ignoring how many matches that Liverpool have played in the last month. But I'm still going to do so. A midfield of Allen, Milner, and Lucas isn't creating much of anything. Benteke and Firmino haven't shown any signs of combining to any effect; Benteke's been fairly poor in every match he's started since Klopp became manager. Ibe, still only 19, still with some fairly glaring flaws in the final third, was by far Liverpool's only threat until the substitutions, at least capable of running at defenders. Daniel Sturridge, only just back from injury, remains a very good goalscorer, but Daniel Sturridge is still just back from injury, having played for an hour four days ago. He'll win Liverpool a lot of matches, but won't and can't win them every match he appears in.

Wednesday's emphatic win remains something of a fluke as Liverpool remains pretty bad in attack no matter who starts, but today seemed even more a recipe for disaster than usual. Until Coutinho returns; until Henderson and Sturridge are fully fit; until both Benteke and Firmino improve, adapt, and adjust to this league and/or this team and this manager, performances like today's will happen.

Despite conceding twice for only the second time since Klopp became manager – the first unluckily, the second with the game wide open with Liverpool "pushing" for an equalizer – the improvement in defense remains visible and remains clear. But we really need to start seeing similar improvement at the other end of the pitch.