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Newcastle logo
Premier League
Dec 6, 2015 at 4pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

2-0

Skrtel (69' og.), Wijnaldum (93')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Player Ratings: Newcastle United 2-0 Liverpool

Sports Mole analyses how the players fared as Georginio Wijnaldum inspires Newcastle to a shock 2-0 win over Liverpool at St James' Park.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa Sissoko pulled inspirational second-half displays out of the bag as Newcastle United stunned in-form Liverpool with a 2-0 win at St James' Park.

The breakthrough came on 69 minutes when Wijnaldum's angled effort was deflected into his own net by knee of defender Martin Skrtel to give the Magpies a shock lead.

Daniel Sturridge missed a glorious chance to equalise for the Reds - who had won seven of their last eight in all competitions - before Wijnaldum sealed the points courtesy of fine work from Sissoko.

Here, Sports Mole looks back at the heroes and the villains from what could prove to be a watershed contest for the relegation-threatened Magpies.

Georginio Wijnaldum of Newcastle United (L) celebrates with Moussa Sissoko as he scores their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park on December 6, 2015© Getty Images



NEWCASTLE UNITED

Goal

Rob Elliot: Literally only had one shot to save in a surprisingly quiet evening for the Newcastle stopper. (6/10)

Defence

Daryl Janmaat: Brilliant in the second half as he dealt with Ibe expertly. (7/10)

Chancel Mbemba: Newcastle's best defender on the day, regularly putting out fires and subsequently using the ball very well. (7/10)

Fabricio Coloccini: Refused to give Benteke an inch in which to hurt him. (7/10)

Paul Dummett: Struggled big time with the pace and guile of Ibe in the first half, but looked slightly more at ease when Ibe and Milner switched wings. (6/10)

Midfield

Moussa Sissoko: Shirked his defensive duties at times by switching off for Moreno overlaps, but looked infinitely better after the break, playing a big role in the win. (7/10)

Jack Colback: More or less kicked the Samba out of Firmino, ensuring that the Brazilian was unable to wield much influence in the number 10 role. (6/10)

Vurnon Anita: Played some excellent through balls in the first half which were not converted by De Jong. Less prominent in the second half, but was excellent off the ball. (7/10)

Georginio Wijnaldum: Put a mixed first-half display behind him to be Newcastle's hero tonight by forcing the own goal and scoring the second. Tireless, hungry display. (8/10)

Attack

Siem de Jong: Worked himself into some promising positions, only for his finishing and decision making to let him down. Was never going to be his day. (4/10)

Papiss Cisse: Always came deep to collect possession rather than play on the shoulder and it made Skrtel and Lovren's job a lot easier as a result. He certainly has the pace to trouble both, but could never fully prove it. (4/10)

Substitutes

Ayoze Perez: Good cameo as he forced Liverpool backwards a lot due to his relentless chasing of lost causes. (6/10)



LIVERPOOL

Goal

Simon Mignolet: Relatively blameless for both goals and barely had anything to do apart from that. (6/10)

Defence

Nathaniel Clyne: Never shy to get forward, but the right-back lacked a bit of quality and composure when he reached the final third. (4/10)

Martin Skrtel: Was a victim of bad luck for the own goal more or less, but should have done more to snuff out the attack which led to it. (5/10)

Dejan Lovren: Definitely could have done more to prevent Wijnaldum's shot which led to the own goal. He has impressed under Klopp, but there is still plenty of work to do. (5/10)

Alberto Moreno: Had a perfectly good goal chalked off for offside, but he was far too easily beaten by Sissoko in the lead up to Newcastle's second. (5/10)

Midfield

James Milner: Plenty of application and guile as ever, but his free-kick and corner deliveries let him down somewhat. (5/10)

Joe Allen: This was a backwards step for a player who had looked to be coming into his own under Klopp in recent weeks. Poor in and out of possession and sloppy with his passing. (4/10)

Lucas Leiva: Booked for a very silly challenge and missed a number of sliding tackles which resulted in Newcastle counter-attacks. (5/10)

Roberto Firmino: Struggled with the physicality of Colback at times and unable to dictate a lot from his number 10 role. (4/10)

Jordon Ibe: Continues to improve under Klopp and the young winger was far and away Liverpool's most lively player this evening. (7/10)

Attack

Christian Benteke: Missed the best chance of the first half and never got a chance to put things right. Hugely disappointing again. (4/10)

Substitutes

Adam Lallana: Excellent cameo as his creativity caused Newcastle plenty of problems. Should have certainly started. (6/10)

Daniel Sturridge: Missed one excellent chance as he pulled a right-footed effort horribly wide when the Reds were 1-0 down. (4/10)

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