LIVERPOOL (4-3-3):
Alisson 6; Alexander-Arnold 6 (Quansah 77), Konate 8, van Dijk 8, Tsimikas 7; SZOBOSZLAI 8, Gravenberch 7 (Endo 77), Mac Allister 8 (Jones 86); Salah 7, Jota 6 (Gakpo 61, 6), Diaz 6 (Nunez 86).
Subs: Kelleher (gk), Robertson, Elliott, Chiesa.
NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1):
4 Pope: Should have done much better with Liverpool’s first goal and looked a bag of nerves for much of the night – his place in the side will rightly be called into question
6 Livramento: Did a reasonable defensive job up against Diaz, but wasn’t really able to get forward
5 Schar: Got pulled around a bit as the fluidity of the Liverpool attack caused him problems
6 Burn: Just about the shaded the physical battle with Liverpool’s forwards but stood off for Liverpool’s second
7 HALL: Had the toughest task in English football up against Salah, and while he wasn’t foot perfect, he fared pretty well
5 Guimaraes: Couldn’t really stop Szoboszlai playing and wasn’t a factor in Liverpool’s defensive third
6 Tonali: Generally used the ball well when he had it, but wasn’t able to dominate at the heart of midfield
5 Murphy: Had a couple of decent breaks up the right-hand side, but couldn’t find a telling pass
4 Gordon: The experiment of playing him as a number ten didn’t really work – might well have been more of a threat in his usual wide role
5 Willock: Didn’t get much joy after being switched into a wider position on the left-hand side
5 Wilson: Failed to find the target when he broke clear towards the end of the first half – still looks rusty after his lengthy break
Subs:
5 Barnes (for Willock, 68): Didn’t make an impact in the closing stages
5 Osula (for Wilson, 68): Wasn’t presented with a chance to show what he was capabnle of
5 Miley (for Tonali, 68): Was unlucky to lose his place after having played so well for much of the Forest game
4 Trippier (for Livramento, 68): Found himself stretched as Liverpool came close to extending their lead late on
Longstaff (for Guimaraes, 87)
(not used): Dubravka (gk), Ruddy (gk), Targett, Krafth.
Man Of The Match: DOMINIC SZOBOSZLAI – Scored Liverpool’s opening goal and oozed class and composure at the heart of midfield.
