Thoughts on Darwin Nunez, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold against Newcastle
This was a big moment for Darwin Nunez, and for Liverpool. He’s had to be patient at the start of this season, but there was a true match-winning contribution, and the kind of clinical finishes Reds fans have been desperate to see from their No.9.
Anyone who has watched Nunez knows he is a magnet for goal-scoring chances. His movement is excellent, particularly off the shoulder, and he has searing pace to go with it.
The question has been over his finishing, and his ability to carry out the work his manager wants when out of possession. Clearly, Klopp feels Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota press better and defend from the front better, but if Nunez can improve that element, and if he can finish the way he did up at St James’ Park, then he’s going to be hard to leave out of the team. The good news for Klopp is that he has five forwards, all of them with different attributes, who are all ready to contribute. Liverpool’s attack this season looks stacked!
I don’t think Virgil van Dijk could have any complaints over his red card. Once it’s given as a foul – and it was a foul – then it has to be a red card. The more worrying thing is that it is the kind of mistake Van Dijk simply didn’t make a few years back. He was always in control in situations like that, but he perhaps has just lost a little of that sharpness, or that clarity in his decision-making, and it cost him. His reaction towards the match officials might cost him an extra game or two’s ban, too. Not great.
Alexander-Arnold was lucky to avoid a second yellow card, but unlucky in the extreme to have been given the first booking. How the referee could look at the challenge from Anthony Gordon and not give a foul is anyone’s guess, and if the correct decision is given there then we don’t have the flashpoint that emerges subsequently. It was certainly a testing first 45 minutes for Alexander-Arnold, one he won’t look back on with any great fondness. He’ll know he got away with one, but credit to him, and Liverpool, for their second-half spirit. That was a big win, and Alexander-Arnold’s roar to the away end in the closing stages told you that.
Jude Bellingham reminding Liverpool what they missed out on
What a start Jude Bellingham has made at Real Madrid – a reminder of what Liverpool missed out on after their lengthy pursuit of the player during his Borussia Dortmund days.
I don’t think it’s any surprise to see Bellingham lighting up La Liga. He is already one of the best midfield players in world football, and I don’t think it’ll be long before we’re talking about him in terms of Ballon d’Ors and England captaincy. He’s going right to the top, as long as he can stay injury free.
In terms of the Premier League, I guess that depends on what he achieves in Madrid, and how quickly. Once you’re there, you don’t tend to turn your back on the place quickly, and it feels like Real Madrid are set up to be built around players like Bellingham for the next five, six years and beyond. The Premier League may be where the money is at, but nowhere does glamour and trophies like the Bernabeu, and having taken the plunge to go there now, when he had plenty of English interest, I don’t expect Bellingham to turn his back on that any time soon.