Liverpool

It looks like it'll only get better for Liverpool from here, but for Newcastle United it has to get worse because of the mess Nick Pope made.

It's harsh for Nick because he's been magnificent for us and to miss the next game is a huge blow for him." Obviously there were moments were we could have done better, but to come away with three points and a clean sheet and to be back in the team, I'm incredibly happy. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk on the performance: "Winning and keeping a clean sheet against a side who have only been beaten once this season -- it was well-deserved. Liverpool made easy work of the win, but two crucial saves by Alisson in the first and last ten minutes of the game ensured it could be so comfortable. [England](/soccer/team?id=448) goalkeeper for the rest of the game and had to play out 68 minutes with ten men, which was an impossible situation considering Newcastle were already 2-0 down. I thought we did really well -- the red card probably would have been a wonderful goal as well if Pope hadn't got his hand on the ball. 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. [Liverpool](/soccer/team?id=364)'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. What was the Newcastle keeper thinking when he handled the ball outside his penalty area? The [Brazil](/soccer/team?id=205) international can't carry Newcastle on his own and results had already started to tail off before he started his three-match ban, which ended with this game. But even if he does, Howe will have to choose between Karius and Darlow -- two keepers who have spent this season watching from the sidelines. [Liverpool](/soccer/team?id=364) and pretty much killed off their hopes of a top four finish.

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez will undergo tests on a shoulder injury that makes him a doubt for Tuesday's Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

"It's too early to say we are there again. "We are a step further forward," Klopp said. We haven't had this for ages so it's a good day.

Liverpool boosted its push for a top-four finish with a 2-0 win at 10-man Newcastle in the English Premier League, with January signing Cody Gakpo scoring ...

The Egyptian went for goal himself a minute later but shot only tamely at substitute goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Pope made a total mess of his attempt, though, and then grabbed the ball with his hand in what looked like an inadvertent reflex. A rampant Liverpool was already two goals up by the time Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope was sent off in the 22nd minute for a straight red card after handling the ball outside the area.

Nick Pope's catastrophic misjudgment, Nunez finding a clinical edge and Alisson's excellence - our experts analyse the big talking points.

[Ilkay Gundogan](https://theathletic.com/football/player/ilkay-gundogan-wa63bpNErRmj5JpN/). [Dan Burn](https://theathletic.com/football/player/dan-burn-PRfKF03y9KXWLvQ3/) headed onto the bar from a Trippier corner five minutes before half-time. Eddie Howe’s only options are [Loris Karius](https://theathletic.com/football/player/loris-karius-AA3C9jGfh6K68O04/) and [Mark Gillespie](https://theathletic.com/football/player/mark-gillespie-q0yp8Z7Wff8gmKYo/) — neither of whom have made a Newcastle appearance this season. What else stood out was how often Alisson caught the ball to calm everything down and give Liverpool some breathing space between Newcastle attacks, while his eye for a pass led to Nick Pope getting sent off for Newcastle. Alisson has been Liverpool’s player of the season so far and he proved exactly why against Newcastle. But his strike at St James’ Park to give Liverpool the lead might well be his most important given how well he took it. It is noticeable that their best recent performances have come in the cup, and their grip on the top four has relied on [Tottenham Hotspur](https://theathletic.com/football/team/tottenham-hotspur/) slipping up below them. [A 2-0 win for Jurgen Klopp’s side](https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/newcastle-liverpool-live-score-updates-result/i76RpKfbmT0a/) reignited their previously fading hopes of securing a place in the top four, but of arguably more significance was a red card to Newcastle goalkeeper [Nick Pope](https://theathletic.com/football/player/nick-pope-4ObCyTd1SVJaW4Kn/) that leaves Eddie Howe desperately short of goalkeeping options ahead of next weekend’s Carabao Cup final. With the ball too low for a header, the Newcastle keeper instinctively tried to grab it, 10 yards outside the penalty area. It is this kind of pinpoint distribution Liverpool fans have come to know and love from the Brazilian goalkeeper. Continue their mini-revival, and there is a chance of repeating their exploits of 2020-21, when they took 26 points from their last 30 to finish third in the league, despite being mired in mid-table in February. Alexander-Arnold took that personally and there he was to pick out a perfect pass to split Newcastle’s defence.

MANCHESTER, England — Champions League royalty go head-to-head on Tuesday when Liverpool hosts holder Real Madrid at Anfield.

It faces Eintracht Frankfurt away on Tuesday on the back of a five-game winning run. So much so that, up until the past week, winning the Champions League looked like its best chance of qualifying for next season’s competition. Inter Milan, which is the closest challenger to Napoli in Italy, is also in action in the Champions League this week when it hosts Porto on Wednesday. The City manager is still waiting to win his first Champions League title with a team other than Barcelona featuring Lionel Messi, having lifted it twice with the Catalan club in 2009 and 2011. But City has looked strong in the Champions League, cruising through the group stages and is the overwhelming favorite to win when it travels to RB Leipzig on Wednesday. But it faces a fight to hold onto its Spanish league title, with Barcelona leading the way at the top of the standings.

That triangle of Alexander-Arnold, Henderson and Salah helped Liverpool win two cups and reach the final of the Champions League in 2022. This season, however, ...

[Joelinton](https://theathletic.com/football/player/joelinton-PoFBCNiMPFwgTqrb/) out of position as Salah’s positioning stretches Newcastle’s back four. The second half against [Everton](https://theathletic.com/football/team/everton/) gave positive indications of a returning connection between that triangle. Two sucker-punch goals and a red card for [Nick Pope](https://theathletic.com/football/player/nick-pope-4ObCyTd1SVJaW4Kn/) made it difficult for Eddie Howe’s side despite Liverpool’s defensive fragility on counter-attacks and corners. In the attack that led to So when Fabinho plays the pass into the dropping Salah… In the build-up to the first, Henderson, Alexander-Arnold and Salah are all in their normal positions… The movement of Henderson and Fabinho attracts Joelinton and Anderson, vacating space in midfield which Liverpool’s right-back can attack. It is about making sure, at all times, there should be someone occupying the width, someone high up on the last line and someone in a half-space or in a midfield eight,” said Alexander-Arnold in an With that flexibility, you can do what you want — just make sure that there is someone in those positions. “The manager says it is not too important who it is, just as long as we are occupying those three spaces. “There has been a lot of focus this season on the two triangles out wide — so, we have the No 8 in midfield, the full-backs and the wingers on each side. A “flexible triangle” is what the German manager labelled it at the beginning of last season.

Darwin Nunez was the star of the moment as he opened the scoring in Liverpool's win over Newcastle. Post-match, Jurgen Klopp provided a worrying update.

We will have to see. [James Pearce on Twitter](https://twitter.com/jamespearcelfc/status/1627038359242547200?s=46&t=DG1CalM1UlloNHGSLbe7fA), Klopp refused to give a definitive answer to Nunez injury concerns. They’re the only team to beat Eddie Howe’s Magpies this season, and they’ve done it twice.

The Reds kept successive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since October.

Four Reds players are among the five most transferred-in players for Double Gameweek 25.

[GW24 bonus points](https://www.premierleague.com/news/3067802) [Man Utd](premierleague.com/match/75177) and [Brentford](https://www.premierleague.com/match/74979). Watkins (AVL) £7.2m Rashford (MUN) £7.3m Odegaard (ARS) £7.0m Alexander-Arnold (LIV) £7.3m MID The midfielder has earned more than 91,000 new owners after scoring for the second match in a row. Alisson (LIV) £5.4m Saka (ARS) £8.4m Salah (LIV) £12.6m Gakpo (LIV) £7.7m

Liverpool injury news: Latest updates as four Reds men are set to miss the Champions League game with Real Madrid, with Jürgen Klopp sweating over Darwin ...

His experience in these sorts of matches could have been vital. Here’s how things are shaping up ahead of Tuesday night when Real Madrid will be in town. It is a good job, then, that Fabinho and [Diogo Jota](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-transfer-fsg-diogo-jota-26103563&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiproaA0aH9AhVLQ_EDHTk1AxQQFnoECAEQAg&usg=AOvVaw1vyV51Kk-bnsBVtwOKySyu) and [Roberto Firmino](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fcody-gakpo-roberto-firmino-liverpool-26242982&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwibuq6H0aH9AhWRTqQEHafiAEcQFnoECAgQAg&usg=AOvVaw0nag4xC60KfFfVj2ktMFrk) now back, Liverpool does have options in attack but having the Colombian forward back would be a big addition to the squad — he was, after all, the best Reds player before his initial setback. [Joël Matip](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-transfer-talks-joel-matip-26272423&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiV2crf0qH9AhVOVqQEHUGoBiMQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw1qSp9G1FRkTE02hZdgwlAC) in the greatest of form. [Virgil van Dijk](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-news-van-dijk-merseyside-26269995&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjXscPl0qH9AhUBUaQEHaeDC8IQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw1Qh6oUTtLyMZ6f19AukfcS) when he returns, with the current best two Liverpool center-backs clear. [Jordan Henderson](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-jordan-henderson-jurgen-klopp-25230205&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiE6Y370qH9AhUFVqQEHTu3Cl0QFnoECAIQAg&usg=AOvVaw1lQLVS5PkUUB-sa4b4lkTx) have started to look more like themselves and [Stefan Bajčetić](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-stefan-bajcetic-real-madrid-26096727&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiTioSB06H9AhXVTaQEHYPNDYAQFnoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw14U7pD-xkgrU-MwddqVU6o) has been impressing. [Everton](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-everton-cody-gakpo-klopp-26230592&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj305bq1KH9AhXUTKQEHWOcBbsQFnoECAAQAg&usg=AOvVaw0pWwHMNe0_wKUNcwBExk7z) and [Newcastle United](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fschedule%2Fliverpool-news-newcastle-1996-highlights-16908010&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjVoqPx1KH9AhUpUKQEHYjLC4EQFnoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw3g4t0lQ1Gw6xShSfbjix86) in the space of six days to turn around their Premier League fortunes and give themselves some hope in the top-four race, things feel a little different for Klopp and his players. [Real Madrid](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fancelotti-liverpool-real-madrid-doubts-26262697&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiKm4Tk1KH9AhWsVqQEHdRMDoMQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw14s_8CheWqgPr3dZnRqXhO) might be lagging behind [Barcelona](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ftransfer-news%2Fliverpool-transfer-salah-contract-barcelona-22218196&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj4_dX41KH9AhXaHcAKHba4AGIQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw1UbGlTfnnNzAGNVJmErG-w) in the Spanish top flight, but this is their competition — the one in which they always seem to somehow find a way to win. The Spanish midfielder is set to be missing for a 'while' with a hip injury and will not be playing against Real Madrid. He would almost certainly not have played a minute against Real Madrid anyway, but could have been useful, for sure, across the rest of the season — after his surgery, though, he will not be in action again until the summer. [Anfield](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=015440420724022033189%3Aygf0ckf-78m&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpool.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news%2Ffeatures%2Fliverpool-anfield-road-development-pictures-26214995&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiXoc__1KH9AhUyQaQEHV6CB3IQFnoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw22Yxm1AZvw124weDjezl_Y)— the first leg, with the second game against the La Liga side scheduled for Wednesday, March 15 — comes at a time when Liverpool has found a little bit of form.

Champions League royalty go head-to-head when Liverpool hosts holder Real Madrid at Anfield. The two giants of European soccer meet in a repeat of last ...

It faces Eintracht Frankfurt away on Tuesday on the back of a five-game winning run. So much so that, up until the past week, winning the Champions League looked like its best chance of qualifying for next season's competition. But City has looked strong in the Champions League, cruising through the group stages and is the overwhelming favorite to win when it travels to RB Leipzig on Wednesday.