Newcastle United are taking on Team K League in their third pre-season friendly and here are your player ratings from the opening 45 minutes.
After Newcastle’s loss to Arsenal, Eddie Howe and co are in South Korea for a couple of friendlies to round out their tour of Asia. They face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
But first up for Newcastle United was Team K League, who were the much better team in the opening 45 minutes.
The Magpies were incredibly sloppy in possession, with their South Korean opponents looking much brighter on the ball. They even created the better openings, and took the lead in the 37th minute through Jin-gyu.
Here’s how the players rated in the first half, with Newcastle United losing 1-0 to Team K League.
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Nick Pope – 6
With Aaron Ramsdale set to join Newcastle, there was renewed pressure on Pope to perform. However, the 33-year-old was unable to keep a clean sheet against Team K League.
Plenty of shots came his way, with Team K League often missing the target. However, they eventually found a way beyond Pope in the 37th minute. He certainly was not to blame for the goal.
Emil Krafth – 4
The Sweden international was fairly anonymous for the Magpies, doing nothing to prove he should be playing more regularly when the 2025/26 season kicks off.
Jamaal Lascelles – 4
He captained Newcastle United against Team K League, but did not necessarily lead by example. Lascelles struggled, as he continues to rebuild his match fitness after missing a year of his career through injury.
Alex Murphy – 5
Back in the starting XI despite his own-goal against Arsenal and deserved his spot. Deployed at centre-back for the first time this summer and looked comfortable defensively. However, the youngster lacked composure in possession.
Tino Livramento – 6
Rarely tested defensively, with the majority of Team K League’s attacks coming down the opposite flank.
Livramento tried to combine with Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon down the left, but the trio were rarely on the same page.
Lewis Miley – 6
The 19-year-old endured a sluggish start to Wednesday’s game, but eventually found his feet in the middle of the park with some tidy passing.
Sandro Tonali – 6
As is always the case, he was the busiest of Newcastle United’s midfielders. Attempted a spectacular effort from distance, but his radar was well off.
Joe Willock – 5.5
In the early stages, Willock was the one trying to make things happen for Newcastle United. However, he became less and less influential as the half went on.
He appeared to suffer an injury in the 20th minute, but it did not force him off.
Anthony Elanga – 6
The summer signing was one of Newcastle’s brighter players during an extremely unwatchable first half.
He had a couple of efforts at goal, but was unable to add to his pre-season tally after scoring against Arsenal.
William Osula – 4
With Alexander Isak looking to leave Newcastle, Will Osula got another chance to start up front. Once again he showed excellent energy, but was not massively effective against Team K League. You could see his frustration.
The 21-year-old did not get close to scoring, reinforcing why the Magpies are desperate to sign a striker.
Anthony Gordon – 6
He is clearly lacking sharpness in the final third, but there can be no complaints about Gordon’s work off the ball. He pressed tirelessly, but the big concern is that he had to do so much pressing.
Gordon squandered Newcastle’s best chance of the half, skewing an effort wide after being picked out by Miley in the box.
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