Analysis: Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp set Liverpool up in a now familiar 4-2-3-1 shape, with Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum sitting as the two deep-lying midfielders. Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri played as an attacking midfield trio behind Mo Salah.

The home side took a while to settle into a consistent attacking rhythm, as the visitors managed to get into their defensive third via the wide areas. However, there was a clear sense that patience with the ball, coupled with the ability to recognise when to change the tempo in the final third, would eventually work in their favour.

Full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson initially provided Liverpool’s attacking width, which allowed Mane and Shaqiri to drift inside. However, up against a well-organised back five, the Reds needed to find more effective ways of penetrating. Dropping the full-backs deeper than usual gave the visitors’ central midfielders more to worry about – as they were drawn to Robertson and Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool’s double pivot of Henderson and Wijnaldum were afforded more time and space to find passes into their forward line. With Shaqiri in particular operating in the central lane, Salah was able to offer curved runs in behind – the Egyptian’s movements toward the right inside channel worked to push Newcastle’s defence back and give his attacking teammates more space to receive.

As the first half progressed, and with Liverpool now ahead, the visitors dropped into a lower defensive block. Space in the attacking third became congested, at which point the full-backs moved higher once more – while Henderson and Wijnaldum sat deeper to screen access into the two strikers Newcastle tried to leave up throughout.

In the second half, Liverpool’s attacking play came from winning the ball high in Newcastle’s half. The visitors twice changed their style, first to a more direct approach and then into an expansive short build from the goalkeeper. But the intensity of press from Mane, Firmino, Salah and Shaqiri resulted in much higher possession for Liverpool – perhaps the only surprise is that none of their three second-half goals came directly from one of the many high regains.

Liverpool’s dominance on the ball – they registered 72 per cent of possession – meant they were rarely in their defensive shape. When they were, they aggressively counter-pressed from within their 4-2-3-1, with Henderson and Wijnaldum central to their defensive transition. The pair were excellent at delaying Newcastle’s attacks, especially as the visitors had three central midfielders and left two strikers high throughout. With the support and tireless running of Firmino ahead of them, Liverpool frequently regained possession in the central lane.

The hosts found it more difficult when the visitors quickly switched play across their back line of five. Firmino couldn’t step forward to help the press, as this would have left Henderson and Wijnaldum more exposed to Newcastle’s central players. Instead, Liverpool accepted play in the wide areas – and, with the exception of one early chance, the hosts’ defence remained otherwise comfortable.

During moments of transition, the Magpies would try to attack the central lane – but Virgil van Dijk was immense at intercepting forward passes into the front line, ensuring that Newcastle failed to progress while reasserting his own team’s dominance in possession.

With Newcastle going more direct in the second half, Liverpool’s central defence had to deal with more early balls forward – but both van Dijk and goalscorer Dejan Lovren were consistently dominant in the air. When the visitors then shifted to a deeper build, the Reds’ front line pressed with intensity and intelligence against a back three helped only by lone pivot Mohamed Diame. They blocked off access into the more advanced midfielders and repeatedly won possession high as Liverpool eased to yet another clean sheet.