Newcastle 2-0 Liverpool: Reds suffer from post-cup withdrawal symptoms

Premier League
Sunday 06 December 2015 - 4:00 pm
St James' Park
Newcastle2
0Liverpool
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⚽️ own goal69'
⚽️ Wijnaldum90'
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Liverpool lose 2-0 at Newcastle after Martin Skrtel deflects a shot past Simon Mignolet, before Wijnaldum makes it two.

Skrtel deflects Wijnaldum's shot past Simon Mignolet

Jurgen Klopp made six changes to the Liverpool side that beat Southampton 6-1 a few days ago.

Mignolet, Clyne, Milner, Benteke, Firmino and Ibe were all returned to the starting line up.  Hat-trick hero Origi, double-goalscorer Sturridge and captain Henderson were all named as substitutes.

The game was a tepid affair - neither team troubling the goalkeepers in the first half.

Benteke cut a lone isolated figure - seemingly unable to join in with Klopp's pressing philosophy.

Milner, Lucas and Allen looked lethargic across Liverpool's middle - contributing little to build play as the reds faced the team second to bottom in the Premier League.

Second half and Newcastle started the brighter - but the game only began to open up once the inevitable substitutes arrived.  Sturridge and Lallana replacing Benteke and Firmino.

However it was Newcastle who took the lead.  Wijnaldum got into the box and fired in from a narrow angle, Skrtel got a connection on the ball but it merely sent the ball past Mignolet.

Shortly after however the reds should have been level.  Moreno firing a fantastic shot into the net but the flag was raised for offside.  Replays showed it was nowhere near offside and the reds had been done by the officials.

In the third minute of injury time Wijnaldum got on the end of a through ball to double the scoreline.

Liverpool's problems against lesser opponents rears it's ugly head and if it's not addressed soon it could be a long month for the reds.

On a weekend of some disappointing results for teams near the top - Liverpool have failed to capitalise.

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