The third Premier League game of the season against Newcastle was dramatic from start to finish. Trent Alexander-Arnold, perhaps consumed by the atmosphere at St. James’ Park, got too hot and conceded the first goal through an easy mistake.
Liverpool’s worst nightmare was yet to come. Virgil van Dijk was given a red card for a foot stoppage on a breakaway by Swedish international Alexander Isaac. The visitors were forced to play with one man less for a longer period of time than in the previous game.
The home side, Newcastle, pushed hard, but a super save by Alisson Becker kept the scoreline the same until the 80th minute. After that, Darwin Nunez scored the equalizer in the 81st minute, and then hit the winner in the 93rd minute to give Liverpool a dramatic victory.
In an unpredictable game, 20-year-old defender Jarell Quansah made his long-awaited first-team debut, replacing Joel Matip in the 77th minute, and continued to silence some of the Premier League’s best attackers.
The England U-20 defender, who made his debut in a difficult game, expressed his feelings that he did not expect to make his debut with the team losing by a goal and with a player sent off. However, he recalled that he was ready to play.
“[The manager] just said that I’m ready for it and I felt ready, but as ready as you can be in this scenario,”
“You don’t expect to make your debut away with 10 men at St. James’ Park 1-0 down, so it’s hard to put into words at this minute.”
“They are the most important times. It’s easy to go under but we have got strong characters in this group. When Virgil, the captain, was sent off, everyone else was ready to step up and it’s a testament to that.”
“It’s a team game, everyone needs to be ready so from the manager to all of the players, players on the bench, you have to be ready at any moment because any scenario can happen and you have got to be ready to take that opportunity.”
Liverpoolfc.com