Jurgen Klopp may have noted a recent tendency to judge his Liverpool side not on what it is, but what has not yet become.
Even former manager Rafa Benitez was underling the point ahead of what proved a miserable Anfield reunion as Newcastle were shrugged aside.
“They remember the trophies,” he had reminded the coach in his old seat.
Whether unintentional or by design, it seems churlish to assess what on the surface is a thoroughly impressive and exceedingly enjoyable Liverpool team, only to poke the finger and state it is not so remarkable until they win something. It’s rather like these weekly fun festivals will be contaminated until such time everyone goes home with a shiny prize. However long it takes for Klopp to get to the ultimate destination, the fact such a scenic route is being taken is worthy of acknowledgement.
Klopp has not completed two full seasons at this club. He still has plenty of time and space to work to get where he – as much as anyone – yearns to be.
Gilabola.com – Hasil pertandingan Liga Inggris antara Liverpool vs Newcastle United, Minggu dinihari di Anfield, berakhir skor 2-0. Mohamed Salah jadi pahlawan The Reds.
Laga Premier League di Anfield ini dimulai secara mengecewakan. Liverpool kesulitan menembus barisan pertahanan Newcastle United yang puas menyerahkan kepemilikan bola kepada tuan rumah. Statistik dominasi bola sepanjang paruh pertama laga adalah 77% berbanding 23%.
Hanya ada tiga tembakan tepat sasaran, dua untuk The Reds, satu untuk NUFC. Off target tiga banding satu. Tembakan Liverpool terblokir empat kali. Jadi mereka bukan tidak berusaha untuk menjebol gawang lawan.
Salah satu peluang terbaik itu terjadi menit 16. Mohamed Salah menerima umpan dan melepaskan tendangan first time ke sudut kiri bawah gawang. Tapi kiper Newcastle, Martin Dubravka, melakukan penyelamatan hebat. Skor terjaga 0-0.
Lalu tibalah gol yang dinanti-nantikan itu di menit 40. Siapa lagi pahlawannya kalau bukan sang pemain Mesir, Mohamed Salah. Jacob Murphy kehilangan bola dan Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain segera menyodorkan bola ke depan, ke arah Mo Salah yang berlari tanpa penjagaan, berhadapan satu-lawan-satu dan kamu pasti sudah tahu hasilnya kalau situasi seperti itu terjadi. GOL! 1-0! Lihat rekamannya di bawah ini:
Need help with finding superlatives for Mo Salah. 32nd goal of the season #Salah #LFC pic.twitter.com/dQZyY3CYSg
Babak kedua sudah dimulai dan tak lama kemudian Sadio Mane menambahkan gol kedua bagi Liverpool. Gol ini berawal dari kerjasama tim yang apik di bagian tengah lapangan sebelum Roberto Firmino dengan akurat mengirim umpan terobosan ke dalam kotak, yang dijemput Mane dan diteruskan datar ke gawang NUFC. GOL! 2-0!
Yang lucu, usai mencetak gol, Mane mencoba menirukan gaya karate Firmino saat merayakan keberhasilan mengukir gol. Tak berhasil. Hampir saja terpelanting secara memalukan dia. Gak mengapa, yang penting sudah bikin gol! 2-0!
54: What a ball from Firmino and what a finish from Sadio! 🔥
14th goal of the season for Mane. 🙌
[2-0] pic.twitter.com/bqeVyrYkxw
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 3, 2018
Mo Salah found the net for the 32nd time this season as Liverpool edged out the first half.
The Reds were left frustrated for 40 minutes as Newcastle defended resolutely but the Egyptian broke the deadlock as he cottoned onto a slick through ball from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
It put Salah equal with Harry Kane at the top of the Premier League scoring charts - both bagging 24 times.
The Magpies could have been level at the break but Loris Karius flung himself to deny Mikel Merino's long range blast.
Liverpool: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Can, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Newcastle: Dubravka, Dummett, Lascelles, Lejeune, Yedlin, Merino, Atsu, Diame, Kenedy, Murphy, Gayle.
Follow all the action from Anfield below.
