Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed uncertainty about whether he witnessed a genuine football match following his team’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The Reds secured the win thanks to a 100th-minute goal from 16-year-old forward Rio Ngumoha in a frantic encounter.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Newcastle staged a spirited comeback from a 2-0 deficit, making the game a tense and unpredictable battle until the final whistle.
According to BBC Sports on Tuesday, Opta’s statistics indicate the ball was in play for 40.8 per cent of the match – the lowest percentage in a Premier League match since February 2010.
“I’m not too sure if I saw a football match. “It was set-piece after set-piece, long throws. It didn’t have a lot to do with tactics. But I liked a lot how we stood strong,” Slot told Sky Sports after the game.
The match was played out against the backdrop of Alexander Isak’s desire to leave Newcastle for Liverpool, which contributed to a feisty atmosphere inside the stadium.
That translated onto the pitch, with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon shown a red card for a rash challenge on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk shortly before half-time.
There were 32 fouls in total – the most in a Premier League game so far this season.
“It was a very difficult first half hour, 45 minutes. We didn’t collapse at all and went 1-0 up.
“Newcastle going down to 10 men, you would expect it to be a big plus for us, but when a goalkeeper takes every free-kick, there is not much hope [benefit] if you are one player up. That’s why it was so difficult to bring the 2-0 over the line,” he added.
