‘Little bit naive’: Ben Foster highlights Newcastle problem in Liverpool defeat

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Questions have been raised about Newcastle’s performance and tactics in their 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool, who had a man sent off, and whether they should have done things differently.

Eddie Howe’s side found themselves 1-0 up and cruising, but two late Darwin Nunez strikes saw all three points snatched away, and Newcastle were left scratching their heads wondering what went wrong.

Howe stated after the game that his side needed to grab the second goal, but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson did his best to stop the likes of Miguel Almiron from doubling their lead.

Former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster has now chimed in on the defeat, claiming on his YouTube channel that Newcastle’s approach later in the game should have been different.

“I think that once Newcastle don’t get that second goal, and you’re well into the second half – I totally agree with Eddie Howe, he said it full time he said ‘we said at halftime we want you to come out, and want to kill the game and to get a second goal,’ I agree with that, that’s the way you should do it,” he stated.

“They’re down to 10 men, absolutely smash them. But once you get to the 70 minute mark, 75 minute mark, at that point you have to go right that’s okay, let’s just stop attacking, keep the ball, keep possession, tire them out and we’ll just see the game out.

“I think that’s what you have to do, but Newcastle just kept going. I think it was a little bit naive from them.”

Finding a balance

Although they did get it wrong on the day, if Newcastle had chosen to stop attacking 75 minutes in, they may have invited pressure and ended up with the same outcome.

Newcastle should have perhaps slowed the game down, but making a triple change disrupted their momentum, and Liverpool’s introduction of Nunez helped turn the game completely on its head.

Newcastle’s tempo was perhaps too high in the latter stages of the game as they tried to kill Liverpool off, but Howe should not be discouraged from attempting to build upon a lead if they encounter a similar scenario. On another day, Almiron’s volley against Alisson finds the back of the net, and Newcastle come away with a 2-0 victory rather than a 2-1 defeat.