Darwin Nunez’ brace this Sunday gave Liverpool an incredible 2-1 victory at St James’ Park in an EFL game in which the Reds played for over an hour with one player less.
Everything seemed to be in the hands of Newcastle, in a clash in which Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk made life difficult for Liverpool, but the inefficiency of the magpies, Klop’s success in substitutions and two Darwin-adapted transitions changed everything.
The first mistake was made by Alexander-Arnold, who, in the delay of Salah, missed the ball under the sole, and Anthony Gordon took advantage of the open road and beat goalkeeper Alisson Becker in the 25th minute.
It was a perfect start for Eddie Howe’s team, who moments later saw Van Dijk sent off by the referee with a direct red kick after the Liverpool centre-back knocked Isak down with a kick that hit the Swedish striker first.
A scenario in which everything was very good for Newcastle, with an advantage, with another advantage and playing at home, but the inefficiency of the expansion of the scoreboard, combined with Alisson’s performance, Kloop’s courage and Darwin’s success, changed everything.
The German coach started by renewing the team with Elliot and Diogo Jota from the 58th minute, and already in the 77th minute he bet on Darwin, in a game that set the speed of the Uruguayan, who would come to score twice almost like carbon paper.
Firstly, the former Benfica player, assisted by Diogo Jota, beat Botman in the 81st minute, and when he was on the right flank, he hit the far post hard, which he repeated in stoppage time in the second half of the match. -1 at 90+3 minutes.
An incredible win sees Liverpool join the vice-leading quartet of West Ham, Tottenham and Arsenal, two points behind now-isolated leaders Manchester City after the three-time champions won against Sheffield United (2-1).