Newcastle v Liverpool - Story of the match
Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring Liverpool's goal against Newcastle at St James' Park
Philippe Coutinho's reintegration at Liverpool yielded a third goal in as many games but Joselu benefitted from more dubious defending to hand Newcastle a 1-1 draw at St James' Park.
Coutinho, firmly back on track after Barcelona's overtures, added a trademark effort from 20 yards to follow strikes against Leicester and Spartak Moscow, but the Reds could not hang on and have now won just three of their seven Premier League matches.
Joselu was the Newcastle goalscorer and though Joel Matip was a tad unlucky to see his challenge rebound back off the striker and squirm over the line, the ease with which Jonjo Shelvey's pass cut open his former side spoke volumes.
TWEET OF THE MATCH
"Joselu summoning the spirit of Shola Ameobi for that goal" - Canadian journalist Nick Wells (@nickwellsy) knows his Newcastle history.
STAR MAN
Philippe Coutinho: On a day short on high-class attacking football, Coutinho offered another reminder that he has a dash of the remarkable in his boots. His favoured trick of cutting in and aiming for the corner shows no signs of getting old and he was, by a distance, the most accomplished creative presence on show.
STAT OF THE DAY
Coutinho has now scored 17 Premier League goals from outside the area since he made his debut in January 2013, the most of any player in the period.
MANAGER WATCH
In a crowd of over 52,000 it would be hard to find any with a bad word to say about Rafael Benitez, and he received plenty of adulation from all four corners. The Spaniard was relatively relaxed, dipping in and out of his dugout and only occasionally breaking into a bellow. Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, never left his technical area. He flung his arms around in apparent dissatisfaction frequently, summoned several players to the touchline for a lecture and bent the ear of fourth official Bobby Madley.
RATINGS
Newcastle
Rob Elliot: 7 (out of 10)
DeAndre Yedlin: 7
Jamaal Lascelles: 7
Ciaran Clark: 6
Javier Manquillo: 6
Mikel Merino: 6
Jonjo Shelvey: 7
Matt Ritchie: 6
Ayoze Perez: 5
Christian Atsu: 5
Joselu: 6
Substitutes
Isaac Hayden (for Merino): 5
Dwight Gayle (for Joselu): 6
Mohamed Diame (for Perez): 5
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet: 6
Joe Gomez: 6
Dejan Lovren: 6
Joel Matip: 7
Alberto Moreno: 6
Jordan Henderson: 6
Georginio Wijnaldum: 5
Mohamed Salah: 7
Philippe Coutinho: 8
Sadio Mane: 6
Daniel Sturridge: 5
Substitutes
Roberto Firmino (for Sturridge): 6
Dominic Solanke (for Mane): 6
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (for Salah): 5
WHO'S UP NEXT?
Southampton v Newcastle (Premier League, Sunday, October 15)
Liverpool v Manchester United (Premier League, Saturday, October 14)
