Talk of a Liverpool title challenge may have been a touch premature, after Jurgen Klopp’s side lost 2-0 at St James’ Park.
Much of the pre-match consternation concerned the absence of two strikers, with Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge and Newcastle’s Ayoze Perez both starting on the bench.
https://twitter.com/LulamaFCB/status/673532152504524800
Amazed that Steve McClaren has left out Ayoze Perez. The only NUFC player to both quality and fight this season.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) December 6, 2015
The first half was fairly uneventful, which probably suited the hosts.
Decent first half from Newcastle! Keep it up lads #NUFC
— James Tindale (@JamesGShore) December 6, 2015
And it got even better after the break when Martin Skrtel deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper.
7 – Martin Skrtel has now scored seven own goals in the Premier League; only Richard Dunne (10) has more. Oops.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 6, 2015
Liverpool thought they’d drawn level, only for Alberto Moreno’s effort to be chalked off for offside. It seemed harsh.
https://twitter.com/LFCMostar/status/673557898711007232
Sturridge came on in the second half but couldn’t make an impact.
https://twitter.com/brionyharris98/status/673560662648496128
And Gini Wijnaldum wrapped up the points in stoppage time.
https://twitter.com/CaulkinTheTimes/status/673560491302764544
Beautiful finish from Wijnaldum. Superb victory for Newcastle. Never watching Liverpool again.
— Dominic Nozahic (@domnozahic) December 6, 2015
Liverpool fans might have been disheartened by the result, but weren’t turning on Jurgen Klopp in the way they might have laid into Brendan Rodgers in the past.
Remember folks klopp aint a magician…still a team with lovren allan skrtal lucas mignolet & milner in it…needs time…onwards n upwards
— Jassi Sidhu (@Jassisidhu) December 6, 2015
And some had another theory about the defeat.
Backing Newcastle for the title if they get to play on TV every week
— James Dutton (@jrgdutton) December 6, 2015
Newcastle trying on the telly a month before the window opens, is it?
— The Boys (Back in Town) (@MisterWenger) December 6, 2015
And there was a strange coincidence about the result.
Jürgen Klopp loses his first league away match since his BVB lost 2-1 at VfL Wolfsburg (Steve McClaren's former club) in May 2015.
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) December 6, 2015
The win lifts Newcastle to 18th, a point above Sunderland, while Liverpool stay 7th.
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