Newcastle United pressed the self-destruct button and disintegrated at their stadium when Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool arrived for a high-profile Premier League clash on Saturday night.Newcastle missed a great chance, conceded two goals and had a man sent off – all inside the first quarter of the game. Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo scored twice in space of seven minutes by avoiding offside traps and tucking the ball in Nick Pope’s net.Pope’s night was already bad enough when he left his area in an attempt to head away a threating clearance that came from his opposide number Alisson Becker. However, the Englishamn miscued the ball and handled it. It was game over for Pope and for Newcastle. To make matters even worse, the sending off means that Pope will miss Newcastle’s next match – which happens to be the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. That’s bad timing indeed.Liverpool controlled the rest of the game with relative ease, although Eddie Howe’s team has to be commended for doing their best to get back into the game despite being reduced to ten men.There were chances on both sides and it remains a mystery how we didn’t see more goals in this game. Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak had attempts for the black and whites, while Darwin and Mohamed Salah could have put the game beyond the home side’s reach.A minute of silence before the kickoff for Christian Atsu and Sir Bobby Robson.With Atsu’s widow and two children in the stands. pic.twitter.com/QZp3ObqS4t— NUFCTalk 🥇 (@Newcastle_FC) February 18, 2023 The final whistle marked only the second Premier League defeat for Newcastle United this season – and both of those have come against Klopp’s team.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUESaturdayAston Villa – Arsenal 2-4 (2-1)/Watkins 5, Coutinho 31 – Saka 16, Zinchenko 61, Martinez 90+3 og, Martinelli 90+8/Brentford – Crystal Palace 1-1 (0-0)/Janelt 90+6 – Eze 69/Brighton – Fulham 0-1 (0-0)/Solomon 88/Chelsea – Southampton 0-1 (0-1)/Ward-Prowse 45+1/Everton – Leeds 1-0 (0-0)/Coleman 64/Nottingham Forest – Manchester City 1-1 (0-1)/Wood 86 – Bernardo 41/Wolverhampton – Bournemouth 0-1 (0-0)/Tavernier 49/Newcastle United – Liverpool 0-2 (0-2)/Nunez 10, Gakpo 17/Sunday17.00: (1.68) Man.Utd. (3.80) Leicester (5.50)19.30: (1.89) Tottenham (3.70) West Ham (4.60)***odds are subject to change
