Joe Willock's last-gasp leveller for Newcastle United caps miserable week for Liverpool

The damage done to Liverpool this week has not been confined to the reputation of Fenway Sports Group, their owners. There is no European Super League for them and the prospects of Champions League football at Anfield next season have receded rapidly. Two late goals in as many games have cost Liverpool two equalisers and four points, which could be the difference. “I didn't see today that we deserve playing Champions League next year,” said a downcast Jurgen Klopp. “We learn, or we don't play Champions League. That's it." Just Newcastle’s fifth point in 25 trips to Anfield was secured by Joe Willock in the 95th minute and while his third goal in as many games was deflected, it was all the more admirable because United had responded to seeing what they thought was an equaliser by another substitute, Callum Wilson, chalked off earlier in injury time. VAR detected an unwitting handball. “Who makes these rules?” asked Steve Bruce. “We could have won 2-1.” Klopp concurred. “Today we were lucky with VAR,” he said. “But we don't even take this present.” They paid for their profligacy. They remain rooted on a lone Anfield win in 2021 and, but for Alisson’s excellence, they might have suffered a seventh home defeat. For Newcastle, a return of seven points in three games has all but clinched their Premier League status. This has been a redemptive spell for Bruce, a previously beleaguered figure whose side have been rewarded for showing more attacking intent. Even as when Liverpool had 22 shots, Newcastle had some of fine chances. Liverpool’s high defensive line gave them tremors and Newcastle encouragement. Alisson made terrific saves from Sean Longstaff, Joelinton and Wilson, while the in-form Allan Saint-Maximin was so irrepressible that Ozan Kabak and Fabinho were both booked for unceremoniously upending him. For Liverpool, there was no golden sky at the end of a stormy week, though a Golden Boot may beckon at the season’s conclusion. Mohamed Salah closed to one goal behind Harry Kane with a milestone goal. He became the first player to score 20 goals in three different Premier League seasons for them. That Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez never did that shows the scale of the feat. Yet the fact Liverpool only have four Anfield goals in 2021 underlines their plight. That total could have been doubled, but for the defiance of Martin Dubravka and their poor finishing; it has been a story of their season, especially at Anfield in 2021. Sadio Mane’s last Merseyside goal came in December and while he was not the only culprit, his litany of misses came at a cost. Klopp wondered: “If you are that wasteful with your chances, how are you going to win a game? Only one was taken. Remarkably, Salah’s goal was Liverpool’s first before half-time at Anfield in 2021. It was both a long time coming and something that arrived quickly; three minutes had not yet elapsed when Mane’s cross was not cleared, Salah controlled the ball on his chest and swivelled to unleash a fierce half-volley. Salah should have had a second, shooting straight at Dubravka when Roberto Firmino sent him scurrying in behind the Newcastle defence, and also angled a shot into the side-netting. Jurgen Klopp fielded all four of his premier forwards. The quartet offered Liverpool a vibrancy but not potency. Firmino’s misses extended his drought to 14 games, Salah twice served as the supplier for Mane, who shot wide and failed to dribble past the excellent Dubravka, while Diogo Jota scuffed the best of his many chances past the post when the Egyptian closed down Dummett in the Newcastle box. The stretching Mane shot wide from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross and Alexander-Arnold connected sweetly with a volley that few just wide. “We didn't finish the game off,” Klopp said. “We kept them alive. They fought for it, and we got nothing, pretty much.”

Joe Willock's last-gasp leveller for Newcastle United caps miserable week for Liverpool

Damaging few days for Klopp's side after Super League debacle and dropped points that could mean no Champions League football next season