TF Match Report - Newcastle Utd 2-2 Liverpool

New beginnings. Always hard and sometimes challenging the preconceived status quo, but in terms of a refresh always part of the next steps. Today Newcastle United entered a new phase on two counts.

First, the prematch displays and songs which were about the best Newcastle manager in my lifetime - possibly the only person bigger than the football club - were exceptional. I won’t lie, some of the stuff that came out from the club and Liverpool in the last 72 hours had me close to tears.

An early start in Fleet Street hadn’t helped, but for this old timer it was great to see the mark of respect for King Kev. He may have won stuff at Liverpool, but I hate to tell them, he and his heart belong to us. Collymore broke his heart, but he holds a unique place in ours.

Second we had a new manager and for the first time since the summer of 2025, a certain Swede lined up against NUFC at SJP. On the first count, as someone who thought it had gone stale under Howe, this was encouraging. 4-2-3-1, subs before 65 mins, triangles that were premeditated and a plan that was bought into by every player in black and white.

The new regime got the best possible start inside 5 mins, Osula gets the ball from a Dedić challenge, plays in Elanga and we lead.

For the next ninety minutes our previous 14 and their new 9 was best noted for whinging, shooting into the Leazes and looking frustrated. They don’t play in a way that suits him… I’m sure it will click, but he’s been told what we think of him, and I don’t think the normally placid crowd were comparing him to Andy Hunt throughout.

The whole side deserves enormous respect for their attitude. Horny was excellent with his feet, one minor error at the Gallowgate end seeing him face big pressure from the crowd. Dedić was sliding into tackles and proving he has the sense to play both parts of the full back role perfectly. Admittedly Gakpo scored, but first half he was shackled.

Botman looked like the 22/23 vintage. Thiaw was captaining with real steel, challenging every time VVD was trying to pressure the ref (which was at every foul). Hall - bar the 95th minute - showed why it was utter madness to not take him to the World Cup.

Miley and Steur looked like they had played over 100 games together, their ability to keep the ball under pressure was excellent. Defensively there were gaps, but Wissa did his best to fill them.

Elanga was running… just don’t give him time. Barnes was flagging by 70 mins and Osula needed replacing before half time but big Nick’s warm up was cut short and he didn’t see the pitch for a minute. I’m not sure you pay 70 million for a lad to be saved for West Brom at home in the Carabao.

Second half Liverpool were better, they moved the ball and made us lose our shape a number of times. Gakpo equalised, given far too much time by our gaps behind the two 6s. But then, a matter of moments later, the man Romano tells us is off to Besiktas restored the lead. Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey brought some real dynamism to our midfield.

Murphy and Willock both created chances to make it 3-1 and we spurned them. So… we all know what happened.

But I’m not going to dwell on that. Pregame, I’d have bit your hand off for a draw. This might tell us nothing about these two clubs and their respective seasons, but we look like we are a team united, Liverpool looked like a group of people thrown together who are hoping something sticks.

I’m delighted we are where we are right now. Bring in two or three more players - if I’m being picky, a quick centre half, a proper midfielder and a forward but I’ll take a left back as well to cover Hall - and this may not be the season the national journalists seem to think we will have.

Oh and Alex … nice to see you but like Andy Carroll before you, it doesn’t seem to be working.

Stephen Ord