English Premier League: Reds fall flat

Newcastle (England): Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool resurgence ran aground on Sunday as Georginio Wijnaldum inspired Newcastle United to a much-needed 2-0 home win that eased the pressure on their manager Steve McClaren.

 

Liverpool went into the game chasing an eighth win in nine games, which would have taken them to within three points of the Champions League places, but Wijnaldum forced an own goal by Martin Skrtel and scored himself to leave them six points adrift of the top four in seventh place.

 

It was only the second defeat of Klopp’s 12-game tenure, but with Liverpool only mustering a single shot on target, it will douse some of the excitement created by their recent surge, which has seen them anointed potential champions in certain quarters.

 

“Maybe we deserved a point,” said Klopp, who was aggrieved to see a late effort by Alberto Moreno ruled out for a debatable offside. 

“Sometimes you need dirty points. But if one team deserved to win, it was Newcastle.

 

“A few days ago we were were brilliant. Today we were no good. That’s the way it can go.” McClaren has only been able to envy the headlines created by Klopp in recent weeks, but Monday’s newspapers will make far more pleasant reading for him following recent heavy losses to Leicester and Crystal Palace. Newcastle still  remain in the relegation zone.