How Newcastle’s tactics caused problems for Liverpool

In this Coaches’ Voice article, UEFA-licensed coaches examine how the men at the top influenced Wednesday’s Premier League game at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United and Liverpool – responsible for some of the most entertaining encounters in the Premier League over the years – delivered another thriller here at St James’ Park.

The home side took the lead twice but the league-leading visitors came close to victory thanks to Mohamed Salah’s finish. Defeat would have been tough for Newcastle, however, and they salvaged a point with a late equaliser, thanks to a volley from Fabian Schar.

Eddie Howe’s men were by far the better team in the first half, in which Liverpool were lucky to be only one goal down – a huge strike from Alexander Isak.

Newcastle knew what was coming. Not only did they suffer several painful defeats against the same opponent, but 16 of Liverpool’s 19 goals against all opponents so far have come in the second half of the game.

Right on cue, Curtis Jones converted a pass from Salah to make it 1-1 five minutes after the break.

Liverpool had chances to make it 2-1 before Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle’s lead, then Salah brought his team within sight of the winning post with a brace.

With time running out, Gordon sent in a free kick which Caoimhin Kelleher let fly over his head without noticing Schar at the far post. The Swiss centre-back’s wonderful finish capped a rollercoaster game that saw Liverpool’s lead at the top shrink to seven points following wins from Arsenal and Chelsea.

As the managers saw it

Howe: “We knew we could have a problem with the quality Liverpool have off the bench. That happened, but our mental quality came through and we equalized. We had chances to make it 2-0.” “We scored three goals and were dynamic and energetic.”

Arne Slot: “In the first half we had big problems with the intensity, the aggressive style of play without the ball – aggressive in a good sense. In the second half with the ball it wasn’t that difficult for us to get better. And that’s what we were. Maybe it was difficult for them to maintain the intensity of the first 45 minutes and because of that or for all these reasons we dominated the second half.”

Newcastle’s intense central midfield

Without the ball, Newcastle used a 4-5-1 structure with a flat and very compact midfield unit (below).

The aggressive tackling of their second line limited Liverpool’s ability to advance centrally and proved to be a starting point for counter-attacks. Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes worked hard to regain possession in the middle third and then looked for runs from Gordon and Jacob Murphy around center forward Isak.

Additional counter-pressing from Isak also helped regain possession, with Gordon and Murphy dangerous in transition – particularly in spaces either side of Liverpool’s centre-backs (below).

Murphy was more direct in his attempts than Gordon. He shot over the goal early with several low attempts, one of which hit the post.

However, it was Isak who gave Newcastle a deserved lead. He scored his opening goal after an incisive pass from midfield that hit him on the edge of the penalty area and from there passed Kelleher.

Although Liverpool equalized shortly after the break, Newcastle maintained their intensity in central midfield at the start of the second half. At the same time, they brought their forward passes upfield to quickly find the front line.

Although not every pass presented an opportunity, their intent to immediately put Liverpool’s defense under pressure was remarkable.

For their second goal, forward passes from Tonali and Guimaraes moved the ball to Isak, between Jarell Quansah – in an unfamiliar right-back position – and Joe Gomez (below).

Isak then passed a pass between them to a marauding Gordon, who was able to evade both defenders and finish.

However, within five minutes, Slot made three substitutions that helped turn things around. In contrast, Howe made just one substitution before the 87th minute – Harvey Barnes for Murphy – as Newcastle struggled to maintain the intensity that had served them well.

Liverpool between the lines

To avoid Newcastle’s aggressive midfield duels, Alexis Mac Allister and Jones began to position themselves higher within Liverpool’s adjusted 4-3-3 formation.

Between the lines, the pair also adapted again to Darwin Nunez’s movements. As the center forward expanded to the left, Jones and Mac Allister became central attacking points (below), while Salah remained wide on the right to attack Lewis Hall 1v1 where possible.

When Nunez stayed central, Jones moved into the inside left channel and made penetration runs beyond.

Nevertheless, Liverpool’s play in the final third lacked penetration and quality in the first half.

In fact, Liverpool’s first goal came out of nowhere when Jones burst forward and finished off Salah’s perfectly timed cross.

From then on, both Liverpool full-backs moved higher. This gave them greater numbers between the lines and better support around Mac Allister and Jones.

When a Newcastle winger was pulled forward, disrupting the second line, Liverpool played through Ryan Gravenberch and into the players standing between the lines (below) to create targeted attacks.

They also played around Newcastle, with wingers Salah and Gakpo then playing quick passes inside to their teammates between the lines. Andy Robertson’s cross from tight positions also became a way out. He looked for the No.8s to smash the penalty area around Nunez.

Triple change of slot

With a 1-2 deficit, Slot brought on Luis Diaz (for Gakpo), Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Gomez, with Quansah moving to central defense) and Dominik Szoboszlai (for Gravenberch).

Within a minute, Liverpool were level and had an attacking platform to threaten the hosts’ defensive line. Alexander-Arnold’s overlap from the right side of defense complemented Salah and Szoboszlai, not least on the cross for Salah.

From the left, Nunez was supported by Diaz, who started wide before cutting in while Mac Allister ran from deep.

These runs had previously been made by Jones, who was out with Gravenberch as the only pivot. He then supported attacks from below, often supported by Robertson.

Liverpool’s attack flourished, Salah was more central and worked around Nunez while Alexander-Arnold kept advancing.

Mac Allister provided additional central support, with Jones, Szoboszlai and Robertson breaking through Newcastle’s midfield line (below).

Slot’s changes gave Liverpool the energy and quality in the final third that had been missing in the first half. They created several chances, including Salah hitting the crossbar before turning and scoring his second goal from another cross from Alexander-Arnold.

However, Newcastle carried on and scored a well-deserved equalizer thanks to Schar’s clever finishing. In a game known for its 4-3 scoreline, neither team managed to score a fourth goal this time. However, the second leg always takes place in February.

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