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Arne Slot's masterstroke gives Liverpool star the platform to inspire Newcastle comeback
Hugo Ekitike inspired Liverpool to a comeback victory over Newcastle as Arne Slot's side overcame a sluggish start to pick up all three points at Anfield thanks to the Frenchman's brace
Hugo Ekitike inspired Liverpool's comeback victory over Newcastle at Anfield as the Frenchman's brace put the Reds on course to a 4-1 win.
Arne Slot’s side were second best throughout most of the first-half and his side found themselves deservedly behind when Anthony Gordon scored in front of The Kop. But a brilliant brace by Hugo Ekitike turned the game on its head before half-time. Florian Wirtz expertly rolled in Liverpool's third in the second-half to see off the threat of Newcastle.
It was Slot's decision to deploy Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back in place of the injured Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley which allowed Wirtz to start behind Ekitike and create the link-up for the pivotal equaliser and find the German in the right place to score the clincher. Ibrahima Konate wrapped up the night in added-time with an emotional goal after recently losing his father.
The Reds rode their luck throughout the first half as Newcastle started the brightest before they began to put major pressure on the Liverpool goal. The visitors had seven corners in the opening 25 minutes and struck the post when Harvey Barnes’ free-kick had Alisson beaten.
Midway through the first-half, TNT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher summed up the atmosphere around Anfield as he said if you didn’t know which team was at home you would think it was St James’ Park.
The home crowd was left furious with their team as Newcastle bullied them physically and in desire, with one bottled challenge from Wirtz on Lewis Hall saw almost the entirety of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand on their feet raging at their players to give more.
And their mood was only compounded when Newcastle eventually took their deserved lead, and twisting the knife further was former Everton winger Anthony Gordon nonchalantly celebrating in front of The Kop.
Gordon shifted the ball quickly onto his right foot to fire through the legs of Milos Kerkez and across Alisson in the 36th minute. It was the 24-year-old’s first open-play goal for a year in the Premier League.
On the balance of the game, it looked as though Newcastle would be full value to potentially secure a first Anfield win since 1994, but that joy was short lived as mesmerising footwork from Wirtz saw him wriggle through the Magpies' defence and lay the ball on a plate for Ekitike to slot home from point-blank range.
The relief around Anfield was obvious but it soon got even better for the Reds as Ekitike completed a two-minute brace when he shifted the ball away from Malick Thiaw and fired an effort from inside the box across Nick Pope to take the roof off Anfield.
Receiving incredibly high praise from Steven Gerrard at half-time, the Reds legend compared his play to Fernando Torres during his Anfield days. “It is all about Hugo Ekitike running the channel. It is Torres-like. He gets out of his feet and that toe-poke. He reminds me of Torres every time I watch him,” he said.
Liverpool’s reaction to going behind was brilliant but it will be frustrating to the home fans that it took conceding first to snap out of an opening half hour where they were comfortably second best.
The Reds didn't shrink at the start of the second-half and Ekitike missed a golden chance to seal his hat-trick just minutes after the restart. Running clear on goal from a tight angle, the Frenchman dragged his effort comfortably wide of the far post, a surprisingly poor attempt given his first-half exploits.
And daylight was achieved when Wirtz wrapped his foot around a pullback from Mohamed Salah to roll the ball into the far corner of the net in the 67th minute to see Newcastle off. Konate then scrambled the ball over the line in added-time to round off the victory as he tearfully celebrated with his late father at the forefront of his mind.
Liverpool's first victory in six Premier League games saw them climb to 5th ahead of Manchester United, who are in action against Fulham on Sunday.
Daily Star Sunday
Hugo Ekitike inspired Liverpool to a comeback victory over Newcastle as Arne Slot's side overcame a sluggish start to pick up all three points at Anfield thanks to the Frenchman's brace
Hugo Ekitike inspired Liverpool's comeback victory over Newcastle at Anfield as the Frenchman's brace put the Reds on course to a 4-1 win.
Arne Slot’s side were second best throughout most of the first-half and his side found themselves deservedly behind when Anthony Gordon scored in front of The Kop. But a brilliant brace by Hugo Ekitike turned the game on its head before half-time. Florian Wirtz expertly rolled in Liverpool's third in the second-half to see off the threat of Newcastle.
It was Slot's decision to deploy Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back in place of the injured Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley which allowed Wirtz to start behind Ekitike and create the link-up for the pivotal equaliser and find the German in the right place to score the clincher. Ibrahima Konate wrapped up the night in added-time with an emotional goal after recently losing his father.
The Reds rode their luck throughout the first half as Newcastle started the brightest before they began to put major pressure on the Liverpool goal. The visitors had seven corners in the opening 25 minutes and struck the post when Harvey Barnes’ free-kick had Alisson beaten.
Midway through the first-half, TNT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher summed up the atmosphere around Anfield as he said if you didn’t know which team was at home you would think it was St James’ Park.
The home crowd was left furious with their team as Newcastle bullied them physically and in desire, with one bottled challenge from Wirtz on Lewis Hall saw almost the entirety of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand on their feet raging at their players to give more.
And their mood was only compounded when Newcastle eventually took their deserved lead, and twisting the knife further was former Everton winger Anthony Gordon nonchalantly celebrating in front of The Kop.
Gordon shifted the ball quickly onto his right foot to fire through the legs of Milos Kerkez and across Alisson in the 36th minute. It was the 24-year-old’s first open-play goal for a year in the Premier League.
On the balance of the game, it looked as though Newcastle would be full value to potentially secure a first Anfield win since 1994, but that joy was short lived as mesmerising footwork from Wirtz saw him wriggle through the Magpies' defence and lay the ball on a plate for Ekitike to slot home from point-blank range.
The relief around Anfield was obvious but it soon got even better for the Reds as Ekitike completed a two-minute brace when he shifted the ball away from Malick Thiaw and fired an effort from inside the box across Nick Pope to take the roof off Anfield.
Receiving incredibly high praise from Steven Gerrard at half-time, the Reds legend compared his play to Fernando Torres during his Anfield days. “It is all about Hugo Ekitike running the channel. It is Torres-like. He gets out of his feet and that toe-poke. He reminds me of Torres every time I watch him,” he said.
Liverpool’s reaction to going behind was brilliant but it will be frustrating to the home fans that it took conceding first to snap out of an opening half hour where they were comfortably second best.
The Reds didn't shrink at the start of the second-half and Ekitike missed a golden chance to seal his hat-trick just minutes after the restart. Running clear on goal from a tight angle, the Frenchman dragged his effort comfortably wide of the far post, a surprisingly poor attempt given his first-half exploits.
And daylight was achieved when Wirtz wrapped his foot around a pullback from Mohamed Salah to roll the ball into the far corner of the net in the 67th minute to see Newcastle off. Konate then scrambled the ball over the line in added-time to round off the victory as he tearfully celebrated with his late father at the forefront of his mind.
Liverpool's first victory in six Premier League games saw them climb to 5th ahead of Manchester United, who are in action against Fulham on Sunday.
Daily Star Sunday