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    Undercover cops wear Liverpool kit to arrest Newcastle Utd fan suspected of drug-dealing

    UNDERCOVER cops wore Liverpool kit to bust a Newcastle United fan suspected of drug-dealing.Their sting proved sweet revenge four days after the Toon won the Carabao Cup final 2-1.Thai undercover cops donned Liverpool shirts to bust a drug dealer who was wearing a Newcastle topCredit: Three cops in Liverpool shirts who visited the man’s meatballs stall were each sold £200 bags containing 200 methamphetamine tablets.They arrested him then posed for a photo in Krabi, Thailand, where many locals support the Reds. The accused, Aphichat Nayaw, 33, faces the death penalty or a long jail term if found guilty depending on the amount of drugs he had.Liverpool are the most popular Premier League team in Thailand and thousands of fans flock to bars to watch their games – including many police officers.READ MORE ON CARABAO CUPDistrict Police Chief Preecha Saingthong, who led the drug bust, said:“Me and most of my colleagues are Liverpool supporters. Of course I watched the cup final, I would not have missed it.“It was a shame we did not win but I was not that sad because Liverpool have already won this cup 10 times and Newcastle have not won any cup for 70 years.”And at the end of the season I am confident we will be celebrating when Liverpool win the league.Most read in Football“We have a Liverpool fan club here and are preparing for a celebration – hopefully there will be no case on that day.”Ant & Dec scream with joy and Alan Shearer loses his hat as Geordies go wild after Newcastle win Carabao CupNewcastle United stunned Liverpool to win the Carabao Cup final 2-1 last weekendCredit: GettyLiverpool players and fans were left in agony at their defeat to Newcastle at WembleyCredit: AP More

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    Newcastle make Carabao Cup trophy announcement as club ‘consider scrapping open-top bus parade’

    NEWCASTLE could reportedly consider scrapping their proposed Carabao Cup trophy parade in favour of an alternative celebration.The Magpies ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley.Newcastle could scrap their open-top bus parade for a celebration at Town MoorCredit: GettyEddie Howe is set to be awarded the freedom of NewcastleCredit: GettyAn open-top bus parade – penned in for March 29 – was announced earlier this week to celebrate the achievement.However, the Telegraph has revealed that club officials are now looking to stage the event at the Town Moor – a huge green space that is close to the city centre.Players will be in attendance, as well as Eddie Howe and his staff members.Howe is set to be awarded the freedom of Newcastle in the wake of his accomplishment.Read More in FootballFollowing Sunday’s final, the manager said: “I am very, very emotional and have been all day, which is unlike me.”We knew what was at stake today for all of our fans, we wanted to do them proud and win the trophy.”I am so, so pleased with the result and the performance – we deserved to win today.”It was tough when Liverpool scored. I was thinking about extra time. We always make it difficult for ourselves.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”We were well aware of the history, and we wanted to do the club proud. We wanted to score, we wanted to perform and we wanted to win.”We are breaking new ground. I thought we were magnificent today.”‘Try getting that lot into work tomorrow’ – Gary Neville tips ‘Geordie Bank Holiday’ as Newcaslte fans celebrate cup win More

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    Player who has never played for Newcastle receives Carabao Cup winners’ medal due to little-known rule

    A TEENAGER who is yet to make his Newcastle debut was given a Carabao Cup winners medal following Sunday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool.The Magpies ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy at the weekend by winning the Carabao Cup at Wembley.Sean Neave was on the bench for Newcastle during the Carabao Cup finalCredit: GettyThe 17-year-old was handed a winners medal despite not playing a single minute for the senior teamCredit: GettyDan Burn put his team 1-0 up on the brink of half-time with a composed header before Alexander Isak increased the advantage in the 52nd minute.Federico Chiesa got one back for Liverpool in added time, but it was not enough and Eddie Howe’s side went on to clinch the victory.Academy graduate Sean Neave was on the bench for Newcastle but did not get any minutes.Although he was denied the chance to make his senior debut at Wembley, the 17-year-old still received a winners medal.Read More on NewcastleNeave penned his first professional contract for Newcastle last summer.He said: “Ever since I was young, it’s been my dream to play for Newcastle United so to sign a professional deal here is surreal.”I was really pleased to make my debut for the under-21s as it means next year, I can push on and try to make a few more appearances and hopefully score a few goals.”Making my international debut was a really proud moment for me and my family. Playing for your country is one of the biggest things in football and I’m hoping that, next season, I can gain more appearances for England.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”I’m more than happy about my goals this season at under-18 level and I was really pleased to be the top goalscorer at the club.”I’m hoping I can push on, score a few more next season and be up there with the top goalscorers in the league.”Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2: Jubilant Toon finally end 70 years of heartache to win Carabao Cup in week from hell for RedsNeave scored less than two minutes into his Premier League 2 debut in November and is now one of the most highly-regarded young prospects at the club.Meanwhile, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka also received a medal despite not making an appearance.And reports are claiming that Miguel Almiron is poised to be given one despite leaving St James’ Park in January.Almiron made four appearances for the Magpies in the Carabao Cup this season before joining Atlanta United. More

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    Newcastle and England’s Dan Burn’s ex-team mates recall his ‘baptism of fire’ pro debut that ended in 5-0 hammering

    DAN BURN is still pinching himself after celebrating a shock England call-up by scoring and then lifting the Carabao Cup at Wembley.The boyhood Newcastle fan is living his football fairytale at long last – but it’s all a far cry from his first senior professional appearance.Dan Burn’s Wembley heroics against Liverpool were a million miles away from his EFL debutCredit: GettyHis big breakthrough in pro football came with struggling Darlington in League TwoCredit: XBurn’s EFL debut came as a 19th minute substitute aged 17 on December 12, 2009 for bottom of League Two Darlington in a 5-0 thumping at Torquay United.Mark Bower was the man Burn replaced at the back that day and is now the manager of seventh tier Guiseley.The 45-year-old, who was later a team-mate of another future England and Prem star, told SunSport: “I remember him coming on for me but I’d never twigged that it was his debut. I did my ankle and needed an operation after that.“He was a big boy back then but obviously he’s filled out a bit now and has done brilliantly.READ MORE ON DAN BURN“I remember it was December and it was a very long drive down there. We got there quite late on Friday. That was possibly his first experience of an overnight stay.“He managed to get himself on but it was a bit of a baptism of fire for him. We were on a bad run, couldn’t score any goals and conceding plenty.“Then to lose 5-0. But stuff like that builds character. You learn lessons from it and he has learned some lessons and done really well.”Ex-midfielder Nathan Mulligan, now a coach at Northern Premier League Premier Division play-off hopefuls Stockton Town, was on the bench alongside Burn at Plainmoor.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThe 38-year-old said: “It was a real bad time for us. I think we’d lost four in a row.“I don’t remember being particularly worried when Dan had to come on. Even though he was a scholar at the time, he had been in and around the first team squad and because of his size you had no worries about him stepping in physically. He was very slim but was tall as he is now. Thomas Tuchel shares hug with Dan Burn and Lewis-Skelly as England stars arrive at St George’s Park for double-header“He was a quiet lad. Really nice too and kept his head down.”Bower, part of the Bradford side that won promotion to the Premier League in 1999, admits that it was not Burn’s playing abilities that first caught the eye after the then scholar was brought into the first-team.He said: “He just sort of kept himself to himself pretty much and did his job as a young lad and was just trying to make his way in the game and was pretty quiet.“His size was a standout thing for someone so young. He’s obviously a big unit now and has filled out a lot but back then he was very skinny. Really tall and maybe a little bit awkward too, but a really good left foot on him and he could obviously win headers.The star is now hoping to win his first England cap on FridayCredit: Getty“You always feel when young players have got them kind of tools that they’ve got a chance but I don’t think anyone back then would have thought he’d have been playing in major cup finals, playing the Premier League and potentially England.”Burn played three more times that season, losing on each occasion, as Darlington were relegated out of the EFL.But after making more appearances in the National League it appeared his dream had already come true when Premier League Fulham brought him in.Mulligan admitted: “It was a surprise but it just shows you that you never know who could be watching you.“Dan is a good example for anyone to show that you have to give everything you’ve got every single time you go on the pitch.“We’ve seen it a few times in football. Someone could spot you at any time and that one person’s opinion can change everything.”Burns journey has taken him to the likes of Yeovil, Birmingham, Wigan and Brighton before he realised his ultimate ambition when signing for Newcastle three years ago.He would have retired a happy man with just that, let alone helping them to end their 70-year wait for domestic silverware.But Burn now has the opportunity to add the cherry on top to an already magical week by winning his first England cap on Friday.Something that his old team-mates admit they would never have thought possible in a million years.Mulligan said: “No, I’d never have thought that back then. But it’s a great reward for him. He is one of them that gets an eight out of ten every week and doesn’t have a bad game and now he’s got his chance with England due to injuries.“But this isn’t the end. He can still keep this going. He might get this first cap and once he’s in he could be for a long time.“Another year or so of hard graft and he might make the World cup squad. What an extreme that would be to go from the bottom of League Two with Darlo to a World Cup.”Burn’s journey is the second football fairytale that Bower has seen from close quarters.He added: “Just a year after I played with Dan Burn at Darlington I went to Halifax and played with Jamie Vardy. I’ve seen it firsthand twice how you can come from the bottom and work your way up. It is inspirational to young lads who get knockbacks early on.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But in all honesty, I don’t think you’d have predicted him to have done so well and when you listen to him on TV now he’s probably surprised himself a little bit. “Fair play to him. He’s used what he’s got and has become a really good player. And, due to his size, he probably doesn’t get credit for how good of a footballer he is.”How ‘big angel’ Joelinton rescued boss after he fainted in SubwayNEWCASTLE cult hero Joelinton rescued his old boss after he fainted in Subway.And coach Pellegrino Matarazzo still calls the Brazilian his ‘angel’.Matarazzo was Joelinton assistant manager during the midfielder’s spell in Germany with Hoffenheim.Recalling the scary incident, the Matarazzo revealed: “I was standing in the queue and I wasn’t feeling well.“I tried to go over to the Coca-Cola machine to quickly get a drink.”I realised I was about to faint, and I did faint.“When I opened my eyes I saw Joelinton! ‘Rino, Rino, are you okay?'”He was like a small, no a big, angel – Joelinton, what are you doing here?”Read the full story… More

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    Eagle-eyed fans in hysterics as they spot Newcastle star ‘choking on confetti’ during Carabao Cup presentation

    FOOTIE fans were left in hysterics during Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup final celebrations.The Magpies ended their 70-year-long wait for domestic silverware last weekend with a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley.Newcastle United ended their 70-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao CupCredit: REXSean Longstaff celebrated wildly as the trophy was hoisted in the confetti-filled airCredit: SKY SPORTSThe midfielder seemed to gag on the confettiCredit: SKY SPORTSThe Magpies were over the moon after the final whistle, but even more so when they finally got their hands on the trophy.Eddie Howe’s troops leapt for the stars after being presented the cup in the Royal Box.Green and white confetti filled the sky as the Toon stars celebrated, although a piece of it ended up getting caught in Sean Longstaff’s mouth.Footage of the midfielder reacting to the confetti going into his mouth spread like wildfire on social media, with one footie fan saying: “Unbelievable.”READ MORE ON NEWCASTLEAnother said: “Dying!”And another said: “Could only be Longstaff.”One remarked: “I saw this while replaying and laughed my head off. Glad you’re okay Sean, we love you!”Another chimed in: “Missed this and now p***ing myself at Longstaff nearly choking to death on a bit of confetti.”Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSCarabao Cup final ratingsNEWCASTLE ended their 70-year trophy drought in style by beating Premier League champions-elect Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.The 2-1 scoreline flattered the Reds in truth, with Eddie Howe’s Toon having produced a sensational performance to flatten runaway league leaders.Local lad Dan Burn, fresh off his first England call-up, rose highest to head his boyhood club into the lead on the stroke of half-time.Alexander Isak then deservedly doubled Newcastle’s lead shortly after the break.The Toon could have further increased their advantage, only for forgotten man Federico Chiesa to hand Liverpool a late lifeline on 94 minutes.But that goal was unable to spur a further comeback as Newcastle saw out the remaining added time.Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the Liverpool players and Gary Stonehouse rated the Newcastle players.Howe – the first English manager to win a major trophy since 2008 – was overjoyed to have ended Newcastle’s trophy drought.The 47-year-old said: “We were well aware of the history.How Newcastle outsmarted Liverpool with Dan Burn and Alexander Isak’s genius tricks”We knew what was at stake for all our fans — we wanted to do them, and the club proud and win the trophy.”Eddie Howe was over the moon to end Newcastle’s trophy droughtCredit: REX More

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    ‘I wish he’d have been there’ – Alan Shearer broke down in tears over his dad after Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final win

    ALAN SHEARER shed a tear for his late father following Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final triumph.The Magpies ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy with a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday.Newcastle United ended their 70-year wait for domestic silverware with a 2-1 win over LiverpoolCredit: REXClub legend Alan Shearer went wild after the final whistleCredit: MATCHDAY IMAGES LTDShearer revealed he then shed a tear as he thought about his late father, AlanCredit: THE REST IS FOOTBALLClub legend Shearer, his son Will and daughter Chloe were among the thousands of Geordies who were in a state of ecstasy after the final whistle.But his thoughts quickly turned to his late father Alan, who passed away last year following his battle with cancer.During the latest episode of the Rest is Football Podcast, he said: “I must admit, I had a tear or two [in my eye] when the final whistle went because I thought of my old man.”He was lucky enough, he went to the ’69 final when they won the Fairs Cup, so he sampled it a little bit.READ MORE ON NEWCASTLE”But I just wish he’d been there yesterday. But he’d been looking down.”According to Shearer, his old man was still thinking about the team during his final days on the planet.He continued: “Even in his last few days, he was on about Newcastle and how he wanted them to do well and win the trophy and what have you.”But me and Will and my daughter Chloe and her boyfriend were all at the game yesterday so we’ll give him a little nod.”Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAlan Shearer is wild with celebration as Newcastle win the Carabao CupCredit: INSTAGRAM@ALANSHEARERShearer bravely opened up on the passing of his father last year, writing in a column for The Athletic: “He told us exactly what he wanted and he told us that when the time came, he wanted to be at home. And he was.”We were all there with him and it was very peaceful. The pain had gone.Alan Shearer’s daughter Chloe and Newcastle stars go wild at Boxpark as they celebrate famous Carabao Cup final win”On the way, there were light and dark moments.”We knew what was coming and one day when I was trying to switch off for a couple of hours, I got a call from my mam, ‘Dad wants you and Karen home now. He’s ready to go.'”In the end, he lasted for another 27 or 28 hours.”But on that final evening, he talked through his life, the people he had fights with and didn’t like and plans for his own funeral.”He was laughing and reminiscing. The clarity was amazing.”Newcastle will parade the Carabao Cup trophy around the city on Saturday, March 29.Shearer, who at We,bley with son Will and daughter Chloe, celebrates with Dan BurnCredit: Instagram More

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    How Newcastle outsmarted Liverpool to win Carabao Cup final with Dan Burn and Alexander Isak’s genius tricks

    NEWCASTLE fans have waited 70 years to see their club win silverware and finally the Toon Army have something to celebrate.Goals by Blyth-born Dan Burn and star striker Alexander Isak sunk Liverpool 2-1 to lift the Carabao Cup at Wembley.Eddie Howe outsmarted Arne Slot on set-piecesCredit: GettyNewcastle’s midfield three were crucial to the dominant performanceCredit: GettyNewcastle fully deserved victory and laid the blueprint for how to stop Arne Slot’s Reds and nullify goal machine Mo Salah.In the latest episode of SunSport’s Tactics Exposed, our expert DEAN SCOGGINS explains ‘Howe’ it was done…1. Burn Baby BurnA local lad scoring in a cup final is what dreams are made of.But this was masterminded by Howe and his coaches, shattering Liverpool’s zonal marking system.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThey used Burn perfectly. Slot leaves five big lads in front of the six-yard box by the goalkeeper and then he sends the other players out to mark, like the smaller Alexis MacAllister.Newcastle floated the ball to Burn to isolate the man mountain against Mac AllisterSo Newcastle put Fabian Schar, Joelinton and big Burn in those positions to hit clipped, flat corners, letting them win aerial duels, while Bruno Guimaraes gets in the way of Liverpool’s big lads on the edge of the six-yard box.Liverpool defend like this a lot and it’s fantastic from Howe and Jason Tindall because they’ve taken Liverpool’s two best headers in Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk out of the picture as they can’t get to the ball.There’s this square in front of them that becomes Newcastle’s territory and it is all wrong for Slot.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSDan Burn’s bullet header nestled into the bottom cornerCredit: RexOnce pushing trolleys at Asda, now in the England squad, what a week Burn has had.2. Isak leaves VVD in a spinIsak’s classic “go, stop, go” movement fooled Van Dijk. A burst of movement before holding back and going again to create a yard of space.Making it 2-0, it was Van Dijk’s mistake, he got caught under the ball and he knew it.The cross comes in from the left and the ball goes over both Isak and Van Dijk to Jacob Murphy.As the ball goes to winger, Isak does his movement to create himself three or four yards of space. Isak’s clever movement fooled Van DijkAs the ball goes over the Liverpool skipper’s head, his position is wrong. He gets himself into a situation where Isak can almost see his shirt number and he takes his eye off the Swede. Van Dijk should be in a position so when the ball drops to Isak, he can sprint out and close the ball down to, at the very worst, block the shot. Instead he is caught nowhere near the goalscorer.Van Dijk’s reaction said it allCredit: Rex3. Three midfield heroes First and foremost, they were the epitome of the Geordie nation, the Toon Army. Everything came through them.Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali – the blocks, the dual successes, the headers, the tackles and most importantly, they work together as a three.In the match, Tonali is the one who breaks out of the three to join Isak in the press. And then the other two are ready to pounce behind.It is man-for-man, but if it they get through the press, they work hard to retreat into a compact shape. Liverpool did not have control and their midfielder had no time on the ball – you’re looking around thinking, ‘as soon as I receive the ball here, I’m going to get smashed by one of these physical three’. It felt like three against one.The midfield’s pressing, physicality and desire was keyBut tactics aside, to implement a plan properly and have the levels of effort required is a credit to those three players.You can tell a team how to play and you can talk about tactics, but if the players don’t trust it and don’t commit to it, it’s not going to work.Newcastle won the midfield battle4. ‘Howe’ they broke LiverpoolEddie Howe take a bow, this was a blueprint of how to stop Liverpool – after PSG did a similar thing in the Champions League.Newcastle pressed with four or five players, forcing Liverpool to go long.The most important thing is the fifth player makes a good decision, because if he goes and there’s too many – that’s the press gone and you’re outnumbered in midfield and in front of the back four. Newcastle pressed aggressively and made Liverpool go longIn the coaching manual, we are told to make the pitch small when you’re defending and make the pitch big when you’re attacking. But what Newcastle do is throw that out the window and go, ‘we’re going to make it massive and force the keeper and defenders to go long’ into the space behind the press.Their man-for-man pressing system forced Liverpool into going direct and when they went long, those duels were won easily by Burn, Schar and Joelinton.The midfield made it chaotic and it was very, very difficult for the Reds to get out.Newcastle’s big lads won the aerial duels with ease5. Slow Mo – how Salah was stoppedIn Salah’s eight games at Wembley, he has scored in just one of them.Again, he was a shadow of his usual self at the home of English football and he touched the ball just once in the box versus the Magpies. Liverpool like to use Salah in the build-up, coming in off the sideline to receive passes into his feet that let him turn and dribble Liverpool up the pitch.But the Toon created a black and white wall around him by swarming as the balls were fired into him.Salah was surrounded by Newcastle stars in the build-up of Liverpool attacksThey stopped these passes being effective and every time he got the ball, he touched it backwards towards his own half.Liverpool could not isolate Salah one-vs-one against Tino Livramento, who is a good one-vs-one defender anyway, doing an outstanding job if the Egyptian King ever did have space to run into.Most of Salah’s touches came from chasing long balls over the top into the channel after Newcastle’s brilliant press.READ MORE SUN STORIESSalah had a frustrating afternoon and could not get touches in dangerous areasNewcastle had the effort and application to make this a perfect final performance and make their fans’ dreams come true.Liverpool are 12 points ahead and have won the Premier League – but their route to the title would not be so simple if Howe laid out this masterplan earlier in the season. 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    Newcastle confirm huge trophy parade to celebrate Carabao Cup victory… but then quickly delete it

    NEWCASTLE confirmed the date for their Carabao Cup trophy parade despite mystery over a deleted tweet.The Toon ended their 70-year wait for silverware yesterday, beating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley Stadium thanks to goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak.Newcastle will parade the Carabao Cup across TynesideCredit: RexGeordie celebrations went long into the night as players drank from the cup and thousands of fans headed out to party.Newcastle’s heroes are now set for a parade across Tyneside to show off their silverware.The club confirmed the date of the event, telling fans on social media to keep Saturday 29th March free.But the tweet was then swiftly deleted by Newcastle.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDespite the post being taken down, fans are expected to line the streets after talks were held between the club, City Council and Northumbria Police.Newcastle will confirm full details “in the near future”.The date has been chosen as the majority of the triumphant squad are due to jet off for international duty across the globe.That included both goalscorers, Brazilians Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, plus England duo Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSAnd those not heading off to represent their country have flown to Saudi Arabia for a warm-weather training camp.But the full team, coaching staff, officials and the Toon Army will all be back on March 29.Eddie Howe fights back tears as he dedicates Carabao Cup to late mum as Newcastle hero Dan Burn says ‘don’t wake me up’Eddie Howe’s side do not have a fixture that weekend as they lost in the FA Cup 2-1 to Brighton.Their next match comes after the parade on the April 2 when they welcome Brentford to St James’ Park.The celebration is something to look forward and Howe said: “There has to be a big celebration. I certainly will be encouraging it, which is very rare for me, usually I’m the other way. “We have to celebrate, hopefully with our supporters, with everyone that’s waited so long.”It is difficult as it’s international duty. Players will be going off here, there and everywhere. There won’t be long to spend together but hopefully it will be really enjoyable.”Carabao Cup final ratingsNEWCASTLE ended their 70-year trophy drought in style by beating Premier League champions-elect Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.The 2-1 scoreline flattered the Reds in truth, with Eddie Howe’s Toon having produced a sensational performance to flatten runaway league leaders.Local lad Dan Burn, fresh off his first England call-up, rose highest to head his boyhood club into the lead on the stroke of half-time.Alexander Isak then deservedly doubled Newcastle’s lead shortly after the break.The Toon could have further increased their advantage, only for forgotten man Federico Chiesa to hand Liverpool a late lifeline on 94 minutes.But that goal was unable to spur a further comeback as Newcastle saw out the remaining added time.Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the Liverpool players and Gary Stonehouse rated the Newcastle players. More