Player Ratings: Mohamed Salah Shines Again as Liverpool are Held to Draw by Newcastle United

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EPL Index

·4 December 2024

Player Ratings: Mohamed Salah Shines Again as Liverpool are Held to Draw by Newcastle United

Newcastle United and Liverpool Battle to a Thrilling Draw at St James’ Park

In a match that epitomised the drama of the Premier League, Newcastle United and Liverpool shared the spoils in a gripping 3-3 draw that had everything from spectacular goals to last-minute drama. This result may not have shifted Liverpool from their perch atop the league table, but it has certainly tightened the race, with Chelsea and Manchester City now hot on their heels.

High-Octane Football Marks Premier Clash

The clash at St James’ Park was a spectacle of high-intensity football that highlighted both teams’ attacking prowess. Newcastle, underpinned by the electric atmosphere of their home crowd, took the lead through a powerful strike from Alexander Isak, whose performance continues to impress. This was a match that swayed with each goal, epitomised by the quick exchanges that saw Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon scoring in rapid succession, with Mohamed Salah eventually quietening the crowd with his first of the night.

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Liverpool’s Missed Opportunity

For Liverpool, this was a missed opportunity. Coming off a week where they had bested the top teams in both Europe and domestic play, expectations were high. Their usual fluidity seemed somewhat disrupted in the first half, setting the stage for a challenging evening. Despite Salah’s heroics, which saw him scoring twice, a rare mistake from goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the dying moments allowed Newcastle’s Fabian Schar to slide in and secure a draw with a spectacular finish.

This result leaves Liverpool in a precarious position at the top, with their rivals now breathing down their necks in the title chase.

Standout Performances

The match featured some standout individual performances, not least from Liverpool’s Egyptian maestro Salah, who was named the Player of the Match. His double was a reminder of his class, but Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes also shone brightly, orchestrating play and battling fiercely in midfield.

Player Ratings Breakdown

Newcastle United: GK: Nick Pope – 5/10 RB: Tino Livramento – 6/10 CB: Fabian Schar – 7/10 CB: Dan Burn – 6/10 LB: Lewis Hall – 6/10 CM: Bruno Guimaraes – 8/10 CM: Sandro Tonali – 7/10 CM: Joelinton – 7/10 RW: Jacob Murphy – 6/10 ST: Alexander Isak – 9/10 LW: Anthony Gordon – 8/10 Subs: Harvey Barnes 6/10, Joe Willock 6/10, Sean Longstaff 6/10, Callum Wilson 6/10
Liverpool: GK: Caoimhin Kelleher – 4/10 RB: Jarell Quansah – 6/10 CB: Joe Gomez – 6/10 CB: Virgil van Dijk – 6/10 LB: Andy Robertson – 6/10 DM: Ryan Gravenberch – 5/10 DM: Alexis Mac Allister – 7/10 RW: Mohamed Salah – 9/10 AM: Curtis Jones – 8/10 LW: Cody Gakpo – 7/10 ST: Darwin Nunez – 6/10 Subs: Trent Alexander-Arnold 8/10, Dominik Szoboszlai 7/10, Luis Diaz 6/10

Title Race Implications

With the Premier League season progressing, every match counts, and a draw like this one does more than just split points—it injects further uncertainty into an already thrilling title race. Both Newcastle and Liverpool will need to regroup quickly, as the fixture list only gets tougher from here. For the neutral observer, this season promises to be one of the most unpredictable and exhilarating in recent memory.