𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

40 mins: Not for the first time, Szoboszlai makes a crucial interference near his own goal, beating Gordon to a header to give Newcastle a corner.

But the resultant delivery, which goes deep, is headed out for a goal kick.

35 mins: Out of nowhere, Liverpool break the deadlock! Isn’t that typical??

It’s a lovely finish from Gravenberch, too! He’s afforded too much time to think on the edge of the Newcastle box, and he places a shot into the bottom left corner, with Pope leaning the wrong way and absolutely stranded!

It was so precise, and a hard one for the Newcastle keeper to see.

Newcastle made to pay for failing to capitalise on their momentum.

35 mins: Liverpool manage a longer spell of possession now. They’re not doing much with it, mind, but they are just giving themselves some breathing room after those Newcastle chances.

Speaking of which, would Isak have taken one of those chances? Just food for thought, as Richard Jolly mentioned below.

Liverpool lose possession as a clipped cross ball drifts out for a Newcastle throw.

The Independent’s Richard Jolly reporting from St. James’ Park:

“Three chances of sorts in swift succession for Anthony Gordon, who can lack the centre-forward’s instincts that may have brought a goal.

“Which, like many other things, underlines how much of an issue the Isak saga has been for Newcastle.

“They have been the better side so far, as they were at Villa last week, but the score is the same: 0-0.”

30 mins: Liverpool survive a scramble in their own box, with a few Newcastle players unable to get a clean shot away, and the Reds are then defanged again as they try to mount a charge at the Newcastle goal.

Joelinton finds Barnes on the left flank, and he crosses for a leaping Gordon… who heads the ball onto the roof of the net!! A dastardly cross, and a good attempt on goal given Gordon is falling backwards slightly…

Another chance for Gordon! A minute later, it’s a very different opportunity, a low cross for Gordon… but he can’t quite stab it home! He’s thwarted well by Szoboszlai.

Newcastle must take advantage of all this pressure.

26 mins: ANOTHER free kick for Newcastle near the halfway line, but Burn is guilty of a bit of pushing and shoving as he tries to get onto Trippier’s lofted delivery, and Liverpool have a free kick of their own.

Joelinton wins the ball to neutralise another Liverpool attempt at a counter, then Burn does the same to Ekitike a few moments later.

Now Konate is booked for dragging Gordon to the turf after he’s turned by the Newcastle man. Clever play by Gordon.

23 mins: Barnes slips a short pass through for Livramento, who darts into the Liverpool box with the ball… but his low cross is a little weak, and Alisson is down well to stop it going any further.

Before long, another Newcastle attack comes in from the opposite flank, but there’s another undercooked cross – this one from Trippier.

A fun game so far, all in all.

21 mins: Liverpool are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment.

They try to break, but a tangle results in Salah committing a foul – a barge on Livramento – and Newcastle have yet another free kick near the halfway line.

Perhaps a slightly soft one that time, but the Magpies won’t care.

Neither will Liverpool, in the end, as the delivery is floated out for a goal kick.

18 mins: More loud cheers from the Newcastle faithful as their team mount a bit of pressure now.

And close for the hosts!! Elanga races onto a chipped through ball and cuts it back on a tight angle – right by Alisson’s near post – but he can’t quite pick out an onrushing Joelinton in the box!

In the aftermath, Szoboszlai cuts down Gordon, but the subsequent free kick from the left is a strange delivery from Tonali.

He powers it low and bouncing into the box, but it’s behind the crowd and goes out for a throw-in on the other side of the pitch.

Here’s Richard Jolly at St. James’ Park:

“Deafening at St James’ Park so far, and perhaps predictably.

“A header from Dan Burn brought huge cheers – which, in a very different way, happened in the Carabao Cup final – and so did a booking for Ryan Gravenberch, which could have rather greater consequences, considering how combative the Newcastle midfield is.”