Paul Tomkins, Andrew Beasley, Daniel Rhodes, Chris Rowland and other TTT regulars will give their thoughts on the match for 24 hours after the game, and there’s post-match statistics and videos too.

Post-Match Thoughts

Paul Tomkins

After what was at least three times as bad as anything I’ve seen in the Premier League for time-wasting, Liverpool scored the winner in the time added onto the time added on to the time for almost countless time-wasting, and even then, it felt like the fourth official’s board should have said 90 minutes.

Liverpool were sloppy, ragged, at times lethargic, but by god, Newcastle were shameful. I think it’s as disappointed in a team’s antics as I can ever recall being, as at least you expect it with some sides.

Maybe if you sell your soul to a nation like they have then footballing decency no longer matters?

Shithousery beyond the worst of Atletico Madrid. I don’t mean to get pious, but really, that’s what the billions gets you? From the great honest football of Kevin Keegan’s era, and passionate, loyal support, to this win-at-all-costs nonsense from fans who chant about how rich their club is. A bit of time-wasting is par for the course, but this was beyond normal cynicism.

Liverpool didn’t really deserve the points in terms of attacking play or composure – Newcastle played well, when they weren’t trying to con the referee and break up play with play-acting – but the result felt as justified as any victory I’ve ever seen.

A late league win has rarely felt sweeter, on account of the way Newcastle approached it.

At least Andre Marriner added the time on the end after Nick Pope faked his 5th injury of the night, but the ref allowed them to break up play pretty much every single minute of the match, and thus largely ruin the game. I’ve genuinely not seen anything like it, and the weakness of the refereeing at Anfield this season has been surreal, following Paul Tierney’s aversion to punishing time-wasting vs Crystal Palace.

Someone serious needs to go back through the game and count the faked injuries, starting with the keeper sitting down for two minutes after just two minutes, to stop a fast start, and him also wasting two minutes at the end, after Virgil van Dijk’s arm gently brushed against him.

First, he had a headache? What, two minutes in? Being the keeper, the game has to stop. Notice how many faked head injuries we’re getting now, and how many keepers are play-acting in games, as the refs won’t do anything, and the keepers can’t be taken off, and head injuries must be treated as if the player is set for intensive care, even if you know when it’s a serious head injury. The fear around concussion is being used as a tool to cheat.

Or look at how many times the ball was kicked away, and how the visiting players continually played beyond the whistle. At times Liverpool were doing more running after the whistle had gone to chase Newcastle players to get the ball back, which is a damning indictment of both teams.

There was so much wrong with that display from Liverpool, and from the referee, and from a sporting perspective, from Newcastle (shame on you, really – eurgh), but the football gods sat up and took note.

Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott made things happen, and both deserved to be on the winning team, as did Luis Díaz, who drove Liverpool forward time and again. They dragged the team over the line.

Some of the other Liverpool players need to give them a big thank-you, as a few stank the place out.

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