Van Dijk on Stealing Three Points from “Always Difficult” Newcastle

A win is a win and, ultimately, Liverpool gained.

It was a removed from encouraging slog to get there, although. The Reds wanted a one hundred and tenth minute winner from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha to beat ten-man Newcastle after being outplayed badly within the second half and letting a two-goal lead slip away regardless of their numerical benefit.

A few of that was right down to Liverpool, who appeared unwilling or unable to adapt to a fired up opponent and sluggish the sport down. Quite a lot of that, although, was down to only how fired up Newcastle was.

“Everyone knows it’s a tough place to return,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk famous after the eventual 3-2 victory. “I feel for us the disappointing half is that we conceded two off set-pieces, nevertheless it’s at all times a tough place to return and it was immediately the identical.

“I get pleasure from one of these environment so I used to be trying ahead to it, however I feel we might have made it a bit of bit simpler if we didn’t concede these set-pieces. Then you definately give them the increase, the drive, and the sensation with the followers, however we managed to get the three factors and we transfer on.”

Whereas for Liverpool the story is of three not fully deserved factors from a sport they have been usually outplayed in—and typically even battered—the story for Newcastle is of leaving all of it on the pitch and nonetheless developing brief.

With Newcastle and their followers incensed by Liverpool’s pursuit of star striker Alexander Isak, the Reds’ opponents got here out like they needed both most factors or their proverbial pound of flesh. In the long run they acquired nothing and ended the evening with a number of accidents and suspensions.

Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, and Fabian Schar are all doubts to be accessible to face Leeds on Saturday after struggling damage whereas stand-in striker Anthony Gordon will miss three matches on account of a violent conduct purple card.

The Reds, in the meantime, have three factors. And managed to flee with out important bodily damage as they stay up for a serious conflict with Arsenal on Sunday—and to persevering with their efforts to signal Alexander Isak away from their incensed opponents from final evening.

“I feel there have been many good issues immediately,” Van Dijk added. “I feel the start was very intense—if you’ll attempt to present you’re the greatest group on the ball they are going to come and assault you from behind and press with the followers behind them, so we needed to be a bit of bit extra direct.

“At a sure level the followers began to quieten down a bit after which you might have time to play and I feel we did that properly. Like I stated, it’s a troublesome place to return and with their followers behind them it’s at all times tough right here.”