Darwin Nunez scored two late goals to cap a spectacular comeback for ten-man Liverpool against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Liverpool were struggling against the odds and second best for much of the game, going down to Anthony Gordon’s 25th-minute goal after capitalizing on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s error, then having captain Virgil van Dijk sent off three minutes later for a tackle on Alexander Isak.
Alisson kept Liverpool in it in the first half by amazingly sending Miguel Almiron’s shot on to the woodwork, and the forward again struck the post after the interval, before Uruguayan attacker Nunez was introduced to astonishing effect.
Nunez broke through to shoot past Newcastle keeper Nick Pope with nine minutes remaining, then received Mohamed Salah’s ball three minutes into stoppage time before executing an equally thunderous finish to give Liverpool an incredible victory.
Liverpool’s win was a triumph for strength of character and stickability because they spent so much of this match out numbered, out of sorts, and clinging on before they suddenly clicked into gear and took the points.
The starting point must be goalkeeper Alisson, who produced that remarkable save from Almiron when Liverpool were 1-0 down, somehow turning his powerful shot on to the frame of the goal. All reality suggests even Jurgen Klopp’s side would not have come back from that.
Liverpool shifted the emphasis of the game with the introduction of substitutes Diogo Jota and Nunez, positive moves in a very negative situation, suddenly giving them a threat when before it had been merely about survival.
Nunez has been very hit and miss since his big-money move from Benfica, but he was all hit here on Tyneside, with that first explosive finish sending shockwaves through St James’ Park and the stadium suddenly rocking with nerves rather than celebration.
Just as a point looked like Liverpool‘s reward, Nunez delivered again to send Klopp, who had spent so much of the afternoon frustrated and angry, wild with celebration on the touchline at the end of this eventful afternoon.
