Liverpool player ratings vs Newcastle: Hapless front three, Klopp stubborn

Liverpool, Mohamed Salah (Photo by OWEN HUMPHREYS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool, Mohamed Salah (Photo by OWEN HUMPHREYS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nathaniel Phillips, Andrew Robertson
Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nathaniel Phillips, Andrew Robertson (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Liverpool player ratings – defenders

Right-Back: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10

The West Derby born full-back once again lacked a creative spark with the Reds in desperate need of just that.

Despite taking up many good positions, his delivery was always over or under hit, with the hapless front three unable to make any contact with his crosses.

Defensively he was sound though, meriting a six.

Centre-Back: Fabinho – 7/10

Another stellar night at the back for the makeshift centre-back, Fabinho never ceases to amaze us with how well he fits in at the back for Liverpool.

Despite picking up a yellow card for a tactical foul on Callum Wilson, ‘Flaco’ looked comfortable and set attacks off well.

One of the better performances outfield.

Centre-Back: Nat Phillips – 5/10

Putting it in perspective, it wasn’t an ideal night for Nathaniel Phillips in the north-east.

Despite a lack of skill on the ball which Klopp would value so much in a centre-back, Phillips was singled out effectively by the Newcastle United forwards.

So taking that particular tactical choice into account, a five seems fair considering it’s the third Premier League appearance of his career.

Left-Back: Andy Robertson – 6/10

The Scotland skipper played quite similarly to Trent in the fact that defensively he was sound – not something you associate with the dynamic duo of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson – but his crosses were just poor.

With Ally McCoist on Amazon Prime commentary, I was surprised he wasn’t given man of the match though.