NEWCASTLE, England — Liverpool blew the race for Champions League qualification wide open by cruising to a 2-0 win at Newcastle on a day when the home side played with ten men for 68 minutes following the first-half sending off of goalkeeper Nick Pope.
The red card means that Pope will be suspended for next Sunday’s Carabao Cup final in what is a massive blow for Newcastle United.
But with Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo putting Liverpool up 2-0 inside the opening 20 minutes, the game was won even before Pope was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor.
Had they won this game, Newcastle would have cemented their grip on a top-four position and stayed in contention for a Champions League spot, but they are now looking at the chasing pack after losing in the Premier League for the first time since August.
Rapid reaction
1. Statement win has Liverpool poised to nab Champions League spot
Make a note of the date as this was the day that Liverpool’s faltering season finally clicked into gear.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have been languishing mid-table since making a woeful start to the campaign last August, but after beating Newcastle at St James’ Park, they are now ready to surge up the table and claim the fourth and final Champions League spot.
Yes, they are still in eighth position, behind Newcastle and Tottenham, but the manner in which Liverpool blew away the hosts in the opening 20 minutes was a reminder of the quality and experience throughout Liverpool’s squad.
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Monday’s 2-0 win against a poor Everton team at Anfield was a big one for the morale at Liverpool, but this was a more significant victory because they did it against a Newcastle side that had been unbeaten at home all season. Newcastle is a tough place for any team to visit, but Liverpool made easy work of the game, which was already won before goalkeeper was sent off for the home side in the 22nd minute.
From this point on, Liverpool know they have the top four within sight and with players returning from injury, such as Virgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota, they are only going to get stronger. And after looking tired, ageing and disinterested at times this season, Liverpool’s players look to fresh and ready to go again.
After this win, Liverpool are the best bet to finish fourth this season.
2. It all falls apart for Newcastle, who appear to be in trouble now
It has perhaps gone unnoticed largely because they are preparing for a first major final this century, but Newcastle are on the slide and this result confirmed that manager Eddie Howe’s team has hit the ropes.
Liverpool‘s victory at St James’ Park was only Newcastle’s second Premier League defeat of the season — the other came with a late loss at Liverpool in August — but Howe’s side have now won just one of their last seven league games. Their recent form has seen them win one, draw five and lose this game against Liverpool. And another deeply worrying statistic is their lack of goals, with Newcastle scoring just three times during that seven-game run.
They are now just two points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham and any hope of finishing higher than fourth has been blown away by Manchester United‘s recent surge that has seen them move five points clear of Newcastle in third.
