Liverpool 4-New Castle1
Three: Florian Wirtz/Reuters
Battle for Champions League continues on Merseyside
Liverpool turned in their second impressive performance in a row with a 4-1 come-from-behind win over Newcastle. It’s the first time the Reds had gone behind and rallied to win an EPL match since they beat Spurs to clinch the title last season. Here are three big takeaways from the victory.
Takeaway One – Ekitiké, Wirtz Pairing Finally Paying Off
Arne Slot has urged patience from fans with regard to the pairing of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké on the pitch. The duo combined had a hand in three of the four goals vs. the Magpies. Wirtz had one goal and one assist while Ekitiké garnered a brace.
“I’ve tried to explain why it was difficult for them to play earlier in the season every three days again, and now they are able to do that, because they can keep going,” Slot said. “They can play more often together, we can play more often with the same team or same combinations, and, as last season has shown, the more you can play together, the better it is.”
Takeaway Two – Ibou The Irreplaceable
With Ibrahima Konaté back in the lineup, Liverpool looked a lot more solid on the backline. In fact, he earned an 8/10 in our Player Ratings. Slot also revealed that Konaté came back one match early from compassionate leave because he saw the team struggling and wanted to help. That’s the mark of not only a great player but a selfless human being. When he scored a stoppage-time goal, you could see how much it meant to him and everyone else.
“I don’t have words to describe what I feel right now because it was a very difficult moment for me and my family the last two weeks,” Konaté told TNT Sports. “But this is part of life. It’s very hard to accept, but we didn’t have a choice to do it. I saw the team, we had some injured players. The manager said to me I can take my time, I don’t have to rush back. But with this situation, I think it was important for me to come back and help the team. I think this is what I did today with the team, with Anfield. The atmosphere was unbelievable today. This is what we need until the end of the season.”
Takeaway Three – A Team Win
Multiple reports have stated that Arne Slot has “Lost the Dressing Room”, but the play over the last two games and statements from players would suggest otherwise.
“I think we came here [against Newcastle] with confidence, but also I think tonight is about team spirit,” Ekitiké said. “We won 4-1. I scored two goals. Ibou (Konaté) scored, and Flo (Wirtz) scored.
“But it’s the whole team if you see the work of Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) and Dom (Szoboszlai). Everybody tonight was running everywhere. It’s not about the one you see on the scoresheet or who scores goals. It’s about the team tonight.”
LFC Globe Verdict
This was a big win for the Reds, and it showed what Liverpool can be for the rest of the season. Reports of the Reds’ demise have been greatly exaggerated. A 10-1 scoreline over the last two games prove that. Ekitiké is a rising star at 23, and Wirtz is not far behind. Fans are not known to be patient, but the Newcastle match provided a glimpse of the future of Liverpool and can be. If we can just stay the course in some choppy waters (loss to Bournemouth and multiple draws), the future looks bright
