• NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Could do nothing against any of the three goals but produced a wonderful one-handed save to deny Minamino in first half. Reuters
    NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Could do nothing against any of the three goals but produced a wonderful one-handed save to deny Minamino in first half. Reuters
  • Federico Fernandez - 6: Newcastle's only fit senior centre-half stuck to the task well. One perfect sliding block to deny Salah chance to score in second half. Getty
    Federico Fernandez - 6: Newcastle's only fit senior centre-half stuck to the task well. One perfect sliding block to deny Salah chance to score in second half. Getty
  • Danny Rose - 6: Did OK in a more central role than he is used to due to the Magpies' injury crisis at the back. Will be interesting to see whether his loan spell from Spurs is made permanent. Reuters
    Danny Rose - 6: Did OK in a more central role than he is used to due to the Magpies' injury crisis at the back. Will be interesting to see whether his loan spell from Spurs is made permanent. Reuters
  • Javier Manquillo - 5: No match for Van Dijk in the air when the Liverpool defender headed home the equaliser and allowed Origi too much time and space before the attacker put Liverpool 2-1 up. Looked what he is: a full-back covering at centre-half. Getty
    Javier Manquillo - 5: No match for Van Dijk in the air when the Liverpool defender headed home the equaliser and allowed Origi too much time and space before the attacker put Liverpool 2-1 up. Looked what he is: a full-back covering at centre-half. Getty
  • Matt Ritchie - 6: Worked hard as always but offered little threat going forward. AFP
    Matt Ritchie - 6: Worked hard as always but offered little threat going forward. AFP
  • Nabil Bentaleb - 5: Like the rest of his loan spell on Tyneside, just didn't contribute enough. Picked up a knock and was taken off early in second half. Probably his last game for the club. AFP
    Nabil Bentaleb - 5: Like the rest of his loan spell on Tyneside, just didn't contribute enough. Picked up a knock and was taken off early in second half. Probably his last game for the club. AFP
  • Valentino Lazaro - 5: One of three loan players in Newcastle's starting line-up. A rare start but, like the rest of Newcastle's midfield, spent the game chasing Liverpool shadows. Allowed Mane to cut inside and score the third. Reuters
    Valentino Lazaro - 5: One of three loan players in Newcastle's starting line-up. A rare start but, like the rest of Newcastle's midfield, spent the game chasing Liverpool shadows. Allowed Mane to cut inside and score the third. Reuters
  • Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Excellent quick-free-kick over the top of the Liverpool defence to put Gayle through for his early goal. Always trying to make things happen and happy to do the dirty work when not in possession - which was the case for a vast majority of this game. Reuters
    Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Excellent quick-free-kick over the top of the Liverpool defence to put Gayle through for his early goal. Always trying to make things happen and happy to do the dirty work when not in possession - which was the case for a vast majority of this game. Reuters
  • Miguel Almiron - 5: Very quiet game from the Paraguayan attacker - but Newcastle were rarely in possession to threaten Liverpool much at the back. AFP
    Miguel Almiron - 5: Very quiet game from the Paraguayan attacker - but Newcastle were rarely in possession to threaten Liverpool much at the back. AFP
  • Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: Has not looked fit the last few games and was taken off at the break after a quiet first half. Reuters
    Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: Has not looked fit the last few games and was taken off at the break after a quiet first half. Reuters
  • Dwight Gayle - 6: On his toes and showed great composure with goal in first 30 seconds. Ploughing a lone furrow up front for most of the match. AFP
    Dwight Gayle - 6: On his toes and showed great composure with goal in first 30 seconds. Ploughing a lone furrow up front for most of the match. AFP
  • SUBS: Joelinton - (On for Saint Maximin 45') 5: A new red hair colour was his most striking contribution. Getty
    SUBS: Joelinton - (On for Saint Maximin 45') 5: A new red hair colour was his most striking contribution. Getty
  • Sean Longstaff - (On for Bentaleb 49') 6: Shot just wide soon after coming on. AFP
    Sean Longstaff - (On for Bentaleb 49') 6: Shot just wide soon after coming on. AFP
  • Andy Carroll - (On for Gayle 70') 6: Big striker had little chance to make an impact. PA
    Andy Carroll - (On for Gayle 70') 6: Big striker had little chance to make an impact. PA
  • Isaac Hayden - (On for Almiron 70') 6: Brought on with Newcastle chasing the game and Liverpool well in charge. AFP
    Isaac Hayden - (On for Almiron 70') 6: Brought on with Newcastle chasing the game and Liverpool well in charge. AFP
  • Kelland Watts - (On for Rose 74') 6: A daunting Premier League debut up against Salah, Firmino and Sane. Reuters
    Kelland Watts - (On for Rose 74') 6: A daunting Premier League debut up against Salah, Firmino and Sane. Reuters
  • LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 7: Picked the ball out of the net after 30 seconds but barely touched the ball again as Liverpool dominated. Reuters
    LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 7: Picked the ball out of the net after 30 seconds but barely touched the ball again as Liverpool dominated. Reuters
  • Neco Williams 7: Played Gayle onside for early Newcastle goal although it was centre-back Gomez who was caught sleeping. Welshman will be pleased with the gametime making only his second Premier League start. AFP
    Neco Williams 7: Played Gayle onside for early Newcastle goal although it was centre-back Gomez who was caught sleeping. Welshman will be pleased with the gametime making only his second Premier League start. AFP
  • Virgil van Dijk - 8: Towering header to pull his team level in the first half. Another header at start of second half straight at Dubravka. Glides around the defence and commands the team so well from the back. Getty
    Virgil van Dijk - 8: Towering header to pull his team level in the first half. Another header at start of second half straight at Dubravka. Glides around the defence and commands the team so well from the back. Getty
  • Joe Gomez - 6: Caught flat-footed by Shelvey's quick-thinking free-kick that set up first goal. Getty
    Joe Gomez - 6: Caught flat-footed by Shelvey's quick-thinking free-kick that set up first goal. Getty
  • Andy Robertson - 7: Offered plenty of service down the left as usual. EPA
    Andy Robertson - 7: Offered plenty of service down the left as usual. EPA
  • Georginio Wijnaldum - 6: Solid if unspectacular against his former club. PA
    Georginio Wijnaldum - 6: Solid if unspectacular against his former club. PA
  • Naby Keita - 8: Impressive showing from the Guinean who was the driving force behind Liverpool's complete control of the game. Getty
    Naby Keita - 8: Impressive showing from the Guinean who was the driving force behind Liverpool's complete control of the game. Getty
  • James Milner - 7: Veteran was excellent as Liverpool dominated midfield. Rarely wastes possession and produced his usual tireless performance. Reuters
    James Milner - 7: Veteran was excellent as Liverpool dominated midfield. Rarely wastes possession and produced his usual tireless performance. Reuters
  • Takumi Minamino - 6: A rare start for the Japanaese attacker and he forced Dubravka into fine save in first half and drove another chance straight at the Slovakian goalkeeper. AFP
    Takumi Minamino - 6: A rare start for the Japanaese attacker and he forced Dubravka into fine save in first half and drove another chance straight at the Slovakian goalkeeper. AFP
  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: Brilliant run and perfect cross to set up Van Dijk goal. Cracked a shot inches wide just before the break. EPA
    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: Brilliant run and perfect cross to set up Van Dijk goal. Cracked a shot inches wide just before the break. EPA
  • Divock Origi - 7: Had done very little up against a makeshift Newcastle defence before curling home a lovely goal just before the hour mark. EPA
    Divock Origi - 7: Had done very little up against a makeshift Newcastle defence before curling home a lovely goal just before the hour mark. EPA
  • SUBS: Mohamed Salah - (On for Origi 64') 7: Hit the post with his second touch and looked desperate to grab his 20th league goal of the season - but it wasn't to be. Getty
    SUBS: Mohamed Salah - (On for Origi 64') 7: Hit the post with his second touch and looked desperate to grab his 20th league goal of the season - but it wasn't to be. Getty
  • Sadio Mane - (On for Minamino 64') 7: Magnificent curling finish to make it 3-1. Reuters
    Sadio Mane - (On for Minamino 64') 7: Magnificent curling finish to make it 3-1. Reuters
  • Roberto Firmino - (On for Oxlade-Chamberlain 64') 6: No goals for the Brazilian as Liverpool brought on their big three up front after the break. EPA
    Roberto Firmino - (On for Oxlade-Chamberlain 64') 6: No goals for the Brazilian as Liverpool brought on their big three up front after the break. EPA
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold - (On for Williams 85') NA. Reuters
    Trent Alexander-Arnold - (On for Williams 85') NA. Reuters
  • Curtis Jones - (On for Keita 85') NA. Getty
    Curtis Jones - (On for Keita 85') NA. Getty

Virgil van Dijk 8, Naby Keita 8; Nabil Bentaleb 5: Newcastle v Liverpool player ratings


  • English
  • Arabic

Champions Liverpool came from behind to close out their magnificent Premier League season with a 3-1 win at Newcastle United on Sunday.

Liverpool went behind to the fastest goal ever scored against them in the Premier League era as Dwight Gayle latched on to Jonjo Shelvey's quick-thinking free kick and slotted it past Alisson with just 26 seconds on the clock.

With Liverpool having made five changes to the team that started the 5-3 win over Chelsea, it fell to ever-present Virgil van Dijk, to score the equaliser with a towering header seven minutes before half-time.

Belgian forward Divock Origi, who had not scored in the league since bagging a brace against Everton on December 4, put the Reds in front in the 59th minute, cutting in from the left before curling the ball in at the far post.

Liverpool turned the screw by bringing on the attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in the 64th minute, with Mane firing home in the 89th minute to round off the season in style for the Reds.

Liverpool ends the season on 99 points, 18 points ahead of nearest rivals Manchester City, while Newcastle finish 13th on 44 points.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "The boys played an incredible game, not a perfect game. Like you say in this country a dead rubber.

"I didn't like the goal we conceded but it helped to make clear [what they faced]. We made so many changes after a long time of playing with similar line-ups. It's not fair on their judgement because they need to get used to their game.

"I'm not going to the office for a while. I will be together with my family, that's all I need. Two weeks and a couple of days and we start again."