The damage done to Liverpool this week has not been confined to the reputation of Fenway Sports Group, their owners. There is no European Super League for them and the prospects of Champions League football at Anfield next season have receded rapidly.
Two late goals in as many games have cost Liverpool two equalisers and four points, which could be the difference. “I didn't see today that we deserve playing Champions League next year,” said a downcast Jurgen Klopp. “We learn, or we don't play Champions League. That's it."
Just Newcastle’s fifth point in 25 trips to Anfield was secured by Joe Willock in the 95th minute and while his third goal in as many games was deflected, it was all the more admirable because United had responded to seeing what they thought was an equaliser by another substitute, Callum Wilson, chalked off earlier in injury time.
VAR detected an unwitting handball. “Who makes these rules?” asked Steve Bruce. “We could have won 2-1.” Klopp concurred. “Today we were lucky with VAR,” he said. “But we don't even take this present.”
They paid for their profligacy. They remain rooted on a lone Anfield win in 2021 and, but for Alisson’s excellence, they might have suffered a seventh home defeat.
For Newcastle, a return of seven points in three games has all but clinched their Premier League status. This has been a redemptive spell for Bruce, a previously beleaguered figure whose side have been rewarded for showing more attacking intent.
Even as when Liverpool had 22 shots, Newcastle had some of fine chances. Liverpool’s high defensive line gave them tremors and Newcastle encouragement. Alisson made terrific saves from Sean Longstaff, Joelinton and Wilson, while the in-form Allan Saint-Maximin was so irrepressible that Ozan Kabak and Fabinho were both booked for unceremoniously upending him.
For Liverpool, there was no golden sky at the end of a stormy week, though a Golden Boot may beckon at the season’s conclusion. Mohamed Salah closed to one goal behind Harry Kane with a milestone goal. He became the first player to score 20 goals in three different Premier League seasons for them. That Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez never did that shows the scale of the feat.
Leeds 1 Liverpool 1: player ratings
-
LEEDS UNITED RATINGS: Illan Meslier - 6. The Frenchman made some straightforward saves in the first half but was left exposed for the goal. He had a couple of mad second-half minutes when he passed directly to Salah and then flapped at the ball. EPA -
Luke Ayling - 6. The captain was solid defensively and managed to get forward. He produced a fine ball to provide Bamford with a chance in the second half. AFP -
Pascal Struijk - 6. The 21-year-old was composed and swept up a number of errors by his colleagues. He was strong with his tackles and blocks. Reuters -
Diego Llorente - 7. For the early part of the game the Spaniard was poor. He misheaded to Jota and looked shaky. During the second half he improved and equalised with an impressive header. EPA -
Ezgjan Alioski - 6. The Macedonian lost track of Alexander-Arnold for the goal. His positioning was questionable in the early exchanges but got better as the game went on. AFP -
Kalvin Phillips - 7. The Englishman took the battle to the Liverpool midfield and harried his opponents. He was not as creative as usual but he worked hard. Reuters -
Stuart Dallas - 5. The Northern Irishman was largely bypassed by the opposition midfield. He looked more comfortable when moved to left-back. Reuters -
Jack Harrison – 7. The winger failed to shadow Alexander-Arnold in the first half but grew into the game. He should have equalised in second half but delivered an excellent corner for his team’s goal. AFP -
Tyler Roberts - 6. The Wales striker twisted and turned in the area to set up a chance for Harrison. Later he should have scored but blasted at Alisson. Replaced by Roberts with six minutes left. AFP -
Helder Costa - 4. The Angolan kept losing Robertson and largely ignored his defensive duties. He did not have much impact going forward, either. Taken off after 67 minutes for Poveda. EPA -
Patrick Bamford - 6. The Englishman was terrible before the break and wasted a good opening but recovered his touch and confidence after the restart. He was unlucky to hit the bar. EPA -
SUB: Ian Poveda - 6. The 21-year-old replaced Costa after 67 minutes and set up a chance for Roberts. A good return to action after a three-month absence. Reuters -
SUB: Mateusz Klich - 5. Joined the fray for Alioski with 12 minutes left. The Pole was diligent without making a huge impact. Reuters -
SUB: Pablo Hernandez - 5. The 36-year-old replaced Roberts with five minutes left. He used his experience to help Leeds earn the point. Reuters -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7. The Brazilian made a succession of important saves, the best of which was from Harrison. He had no chance with the equaliser. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8. The 22-year-old’s superb run and clever pass set up the goal for Mane. Yet again he was in excellent form at both ends of the pitch. Reuters -
Fabinho - 6. The Brazilian was unusually loose in possession. He was lucky to get away with a poor pass that allowed Leeds their best first-half chance. A bit too keen to break upfield from central defence. AFP -
Ozan Kabak - 6. The Turk contributed to Bamford’s poor first half with strong challenges and good positioning. He needed to be more forceful in the air as the ball came into the box for the equaliser. AFP -
James Milner - 6. The 35-year-old was fully committed against his former club. His leadership showed when he rollocked the defence for switching off. He tired towards the end. AFP -
Georginio Wijnaldum - 6. The Dutchman set the tempo in the first half but was forced on to the back foot as Leeds came into the game. His tackling was good but his distribution could have been better. Reuters -
Thiago Alcantara - 6. The 30-year-old tested the goalkeeper with a fine, swerving first-half shot. He is becoming more comfortable with the pace of the English game. EPA -
Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese found the perfect position to score a goal he desperately wanted but his confidence and effectiveness need to improve. Replaced by Salah after 71 minutes. AFP -
Diogo Jota - 6. The Portuguese produced a brilliant diagonal ball to set up the opening goal. He should have scored from a free header in the second half before he was replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain with nine minutes left. AFP -
Roberto Firmino - 5. The Brazilian shot straight at the goalkeeper from a narrow angle in the second half, the high point of an anonymous display. He was far from his best. Reuters -
SUB: Mohamed Salah - 6. Joined the action in the 71st minute in place of Mane and sent a wave of fear through the home defence. Could have made more of a Meslier mistake. AFP -
SUB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5. The Englishman replaced Jota with nine minutes left. He had the chance to win the game but could not sort out his feet to make the most of the opportunity. EPA
Yet the fact Liverpool only have four Anfield goals in 2021 underlines their plight. That total could have been doubled, but for the defiance of Martin Dubravka and their poor finishing; it has been a story of their season, especially at Anfield in 2021.
Sadio Mane’s last Merseyside goal came in December and while he was not the only culprit, his litany of misses came at a cost. Klopp wondered: “If you are that wasteful with your chances, how are you going to win a game?
Only one was taken. Remarkably, Salah’s goal was Liverpool’s first before half-time at Anfield in 2021. It was both a long time coming and something that arrived quickly; three minutes had not yet elapsed when Mane’s cross was not cleared, Salah controlled the ball on his chest and swivelled to unleash a fierce half-volley.
Salah should have had a second, shooting straight at Dubravka when Roberto Firmino sent him scurrying in behind the Newcastle defence, and also angled a shot into the side-netting. Jurgen Klopp fielded all four of his premier forwards. The quartet offered Liverpool a vibrancy but not potency.
Firmino’s misses extended his drought to 14 games, Salah twice served as the supplier for Mane, who shot wide and failed to dribble past the excellent Dubravka, while Diogo Jota scuffed the best of his many chances past the post when the Egyptian closed down Dummett in the Newcastle box.
The stretching Mane shot wide from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross and Alexander-Arnold connected sweetly with a volley that few just wide. “We didn't finish the game off,” Klopp said. “We kept them alive. They fought for it, and we got nothing, pretty much.”
