I don’t care what advanced statistics you abide by or don’t, misplacing 124 passes in a single match is just plain bad.
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However, players pilloried for their abject capitulations against Leicester and Crystal Palace produced a performance of real character and got their reward when Reds defender Martin Skrtel deflected Wijnaldum’s 69th-minute shot over keeper Simon Mignolet.
But Ferguson has been impressed by Klopp and believes he is the man to turn things around.
‘I saw it once, I think he, the linesman, will say he should have seen it, I don’t have to say this but it was pretty clear, ‘ he added.
The Magpies enjoyed a further slice of good fortune when an offside flag harshly ruled out an Alberto Moreno strike, and they took full advantage when Sissoko and Wijnaldum combined once again in injury time for the latter to seal the win with a deft chip. We said before the game the hardest-working players in that system that we play are Wijnaldum and [Moussa] Sissoko.
With Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea all failing to win on Saturday, Clyne said Sunday’s defeat was particularly hard to take.
“If you see the situation that Newcastle is in and the situation we are in, I have to say they deserved the win…maybe we could have deserved a point”, the German told Sky Sports.
“We were not really in the game”.
“He’s going to make a difference at that club, absolutely no doubt about it. He’s got the personality, he’s got the drive, he’s got the knowledge, he’s got great presence about him, I think things will look up there, no doubt about it”.
Despite those precious three points the Magpies are still in the relegation zone, but McClaren is confident that his team will get more good results if they put in the effort.
It was a full-bloodied affair, with Newcastle not scared to press the away side and crunch into tackles; getting the St James’ Park faithful onside.
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McClaren wanted his team to “get back to the basics of work-rate and organisation” and they did so to good effect in matching Liverpool’s pressing game.
