Player ratings as Reds stun ten-man Magpies

From St James’ Park – Liverpool claimed an impressive 2-0 win over ten-man Newcastle on Saturday night as England goalkeeper Nick Pope was sent off in the first half.

The game was all but decided during a remarkable opening 22 minutes in the North East as Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo struck before Pope received his marching orders.

Miguel Almiron had the game’s first big chance just four minutes in when found by Allan Saint-Maximin but Alisson was quickly off his line to make the save. That miss proved costly when the opening goal arrived in the tenth minute.

Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up possession in midfield and played a brilliant ball through the middle for Nunez, who controlled at the second time of asking before drilling beyond Pope.

Liverpool did not let up and just seven minutes later it was 2-0. Mohamed Salah, who looked back to his best on Tyneside, collected the ball 30 yards out and clipped a superb pass into the box for Gakpo to find the net. Newcastle were stunned but things would get even worse moments later.

Alisson collected a Newcastle corner and fired a brilliant pass to Salah. Pope came racing out of his box and attempted to head the ball but instead ended up using his hands, giving referee Anthony Taylor little option but to send him off.

That red card will rule Pope out of the Carabao Cup final.

The resulting free-kick almost saw Liverpool make it 3-0 but Gakpo’s header was straight at a relieved Martin Dubravka, who had his first touch after replacing Elliot Anderson.

Newcastle though kept pushing up and Saint-Maximin, now playing up front in a two with Anderson replaced, forced Alisson to turn a shot onto the bar.

The hosts found the woodwork again just before the break with Dan Burn smashing a header against the crossbar from just five yards out.

Eddie Howe re-organised his side at the break but didn’t make any changes as they looked to find a way back into the game.

Alexander Isak, who saw precious little of the ball in the game, was presented with a good chance minutes into the second half but curled a shot around the post. Fabian Schar then headed wide from a corner as the home side started to create.

But Liverpool were always dangerous with the extra player and Dubravka made a brilliant save to keep it at 2-0 as he pushed Nunez’s effort wide. That proved to be his last contribution as the visitors made four changes on the hour with James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota all coming on.

Newcastle responded with a…