The top game in the Premier League was far from over, but a winner was already certain. It was neither Liverpool FC, who actually won 2-0 (2-0) against Newcastle United in the end, nor a player who was on the match sheet. But about Newcastle’s third goalkeeper. And this is an old acquaintance: the German Loris Karius.
How did this strange occurrence come about? In the 22nd minute of the game, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker initiated a counterattack for his team with a wide tee shot. Newcastle keeper Nick Pope underestimated the ball, which hardly bounced off the soaked lawn. Instead of clearing the ball with his foot in front of the sprinting Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah, Pope dived and tried to somehow head the ball at grass level. He did this, but he really put the ball on for Salah. Presumably out of panic over his mishap, he grabbed the ball with his hands outside the penalty area – and saw the red card.
Because in England the game suspension associated with the sending off always refers to the next games in all competitions, Pope will miss his team at least in the next competitive game – the League Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on Sunday in a week. That would actually mean a chance of probation for substitute keeper Martin Dubravka, who, however, is also not corrected for this game. Dubravka was loaned to United in the first half of the season and, unlike the Champions League statutes, League Cup regulations do not allow two clubs to play in the same season.
That leaves Newcastle manager Eddie Howe with the choice between Loris Karius and another reserve man, 30-year-old Mark Gillespie – with Karius as the third goalkeeper. The club signed the unemployed German in September in response to an injury to goalkeeper Karl Darlow. At the post-match press conference, Howe said he was “sad” for first-choice goalkeeper Pope. Now he has to choose between Karius and Gillespie, both of whom have trained “very well”. However, Karius has “a lot of experience” and he is supported.
Karius made two mistakes in the Champions League final in 2018 – possibly due to a concussion
For Karius, taking part in the cup final would be the first competitive game in two years. At that time he was in the Bundesliga for Union Berlin in the 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim between the posts. However, he was unable to establish himself permanently as a goalkeeper in Berlin, just as he was previously at Fenerbahce Istanbul – after he made two legendary mistakes for Liverpool in the lost Champions League final in 2018. It was later said he played with a concussion. Since then he has not come close to his previously quite presentable skills. Due to some shrill public appearances, he sometimes made sure that his goalkeeping career took a back seat. The vacancy at Newcastle could give him another chance on the big stage – in a way thanks to his former club.
Goalkeeper Pope’s early suspension helped Liverpool – who by then had already led through goals from Darwin Núñez (10′) and Cody Gakpo (17′) – to a landmark victory. In the long-distance duel with Newcastle for qualification for the Champions League, Liverpool reduced the gap to six points in one game less played. On Wednesday, the team travels to Madrid for the Champions League Round of 16.
Liverpool seems to play better against the big opponents
The guest appearance at St. James’ Park was actually one of the most unpleasant away trips in the Premier League. As if to prove it, the Newcastle fans created a deafening noise, with even the loud-voiced LFC coach Klopp struggling to get his instructions through. It was fifteen minutes before he was able to make his defensive changes. Until then, Salah left his backer Trent Alexander-Arnold alone – allowing Miguel Almirón to almost put Newcastle ahead.
Liverpool took the game on the defensive as carelessly and at times even apathetically as in the previous three league away bankruptcies, each conceding three goals that had slipped the club into the middle of the table. One of the lessons learned this season is that Liverpool only seem to put in all their effort when their opponents are upscale. The nouveau riche Newcastle had to experience this as well. With the two goals from Núñez and Gakpo, the plays were so brilliant that the match would have been worth it just for those two scenes. In each case, Salah, who was slowly finding his form again, accelerated the attacks – before he also brought out that red card with which he could have done Loris Karius, his former teammate, a great favour.