Liverpool match report for game against Newcastle United…
Newcastle United striker Ayoze Perez scored the only goal of the game, taking advantage of a mistake by Liverpool full-back Alberto Moreno to stab home from close range.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were wasteful in possession, and struggled to create chances in the final third, as they were easily repelled by the resurgent Magpies, who rise to ninth in the Premier League table, just a point behind their opponents.
The result might have even been more comfortable, were it not for a superb save from Simon Mignolet to deny Remy Cabella, when he raced through one on one late on.
By the end of the game, Liverpool had Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert on the pitch together, but Philippe Countinho’s second-half header was the closest the visitors came to a goal.
Liverpool brought several first-team players, including Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Mario Balotelli back into the team after Tuesday’s League Cup win over Swansea City – but the Reds still struggled to make an impact on the game.
Martin Skrtel headed wide, before Coutinho forced an excellent save from Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul. Liverpool steadily improved as the game wore on, and Balotelli forced a couple of decent stops with long range efforts.
But they were undone 17 minutes from time when Moreno dallied on the ball in his own penalty area, and Perez thrashed home his second goal in as many league games.
The half-time substitute, who replaced Papiss Cisse, was at the forefront of all of the home side’s good play, setting up Cabella for what should have been the second goal of the game – only for him to be denied by the excellent Mignolet, who was perhaps the only blameless player in a worryingly poor performance.