Liverpool Champions League hope boosted again after Leeds 2 : 2 Newcastle 

Liverpool could only watch and hope Leeds United would do something for them against Newcastle United. Weston McKennie and company did their best on Elland Road.

The problem with chasing the first four races is that you keep praying for others to slip. The downside for Liverpool is that not too long ago it looked like the Reds would watch the Champions League run without actually getting involved.

However, that is certainly not the case anymore. Instead, Liverpool need Newcastle or Manchester United to drop more points while Jurgen Klopp’s side need to win each of their remaining games. Liverpool are still very active on the approach.

With a tie against defensively struggling Leeds United, Newcastle still need a win and two draws in their last three games – provided there isn’t a crazy goal difference – to finish ahead of the Reds. . The fight seems to be going all the way.

Newcastle’s next two games will be against Brighton and Leicester City – both at home – before their final day at Chelsea, which admittedly looks much easier than it did a few months ago. USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie and former MLS star Jack Harrison did their best to help Liverpool out, but in the end Leeds didn’t have enough quality to secure a home win.

Two completely unnecessary errors in defense gave Newcastle easy chances to score from the penalty spot, allowing Callum Wilson to score a brace. Without those mistakes, a point could easily have been more for Leeds.

First, Maximilian Wöber got nowhere near the ball but took out Alexander Isak inside the box, and then Junior Firpo — once a Liverpool transfer target — touched the ball with his fingers while trying to exaggerate how hard he has been pushed in the back.

Leeds, to its credit, did try and fight back. Rasmus Christiansen crashed a shot in to make it 2-2, before Firpo was sent off and a chaotic end to the clash ensued, including an intruder getting close enough to Eddie Howe to tap the Newcastle boss on the shoulder.

Sam Allardyce’s side tried and tried, but there is a reason that they are one the teams to look in danger of the drop. Liverpool hoped for a Leeds victory, but got the next best thing.

Liverpool.com says: Liverpool still has to do its own job, of course, but Patrick Bamford’s missed penalty kick feels like a big moment. Had the Leeds forward scored, Newcastle would have been two down; instead, it went up the other end and equalized. That’s what relying on a team as defensively weak as Leeds to do you a favor leads to.

Importantly, though, while Newcastle looked ready to scrap, it also showed weakness of its own. Other than the penalties, it did not create loads of chances, and managed to concede twice. It was fortunate that Bamford did not convert under pressure and there were glimmers of hope to cling to. McKennie, for instance, largely did well against Bruno Guimarães and co in the center with an impressive showing.

Newcastle did well to come back having gone a goal down, but was far from perfect. Brighton on Thursday will give them much more of a challenge. The top four spots still are a way off for Liverpool in terms of what needs to happen, but it can only do its own job. The percentage chance of it happening — as has been happening for a weeks — has just slightly increased again. Liverpool.com says: Liverpool still have their work to do, of course, but Patrick Bamford’s missed penalty looks like a big moment. Had the Leeds forward scored, Newcastle would have lost two; instead he went up the other side and equalized. This is where it leads to relying on a weak side defensively like Leeds to please you.

Importantly, while Newcastle looked set to be demolished, they also showed their weakness. Aside from penalties, he didn’t create many chances and conceded twice. Thankfully, Bamford didn’t budge under pressure and there were glimmers of hope to hold on to. For example, McKennie did largely well against Bruno Guimarães and company in center with an impressive performance.

Newcastle did well to come back from a goal down, but it was far from perfect. Brighton will offer them a much bigger challenge on Thursday. The top four is still a long way off for Liverpool in terms of what needs to be done, but they can only do their job. The percentage chance of that happening has – as it has for weeks – just increased slightly again.

Also.. 

10 important things to know before Leicester vs. Liverpool

Liverpool travel to Leicester in hopes of keeping Man United and Newcastle under pressure for a top four finish.

King Power hosted Liverpool’s Community Shield victory over Man City in August, but the Reds last visited Leicester in the league it was a 1-0 defeat. The Reds visit the Foxes and are aiming for a seventh straight win in what is by far the most consistent form for Jurgen Klopp’s side this season.

Two own goals from Wout Faes were enough to reclaim Liverpool’s three points in December and the Reds will be looking to clinch the double against Monday’s opponents for the first time since 2019/20.

Here are 10 things you need to know ahead of Leicester vs Liverpool.

1. Still no Bobby

Fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Roberto Firmino against Leicester as he nears his departure will be disappointed on Monday night.

The coach revealed in his pre-game press conference that the Brazilian is “almost there” but will not play against the Foxes.

He gives the forward just two more chances to don the red shirt before he departs this summer, with next Saturday’s visit to Aston Villa being his last appearance at Anfield.

2. Smith can humiliate Liverpool

The Reds have taken the spoils in five of their seven games against Dean Smith-led sides, but the current Leicester manager emphatically beat Liverpool on the other two occasions. Smith oversaw a 7-2 win over the Reds and a 5-0 win over Liverpool’s second-youngest team in club history in October 2020, while the Club World Cup first team was at the Qatar, both with Aston Villa.

Given that one of those wins came in the middle of a pandemic and the other Liverpool team was over 4,000 miles away, we’re happy to pretend that neither game actually happened!

3. An Unhappy Hunting Ground

The Reds have won their last two games against Leicester but things haven’t always gone well against Monday night’s opponents.

Klopp’s side have gone three winless in this fixture ahead of their two 2022 wins at Anfield and have lost on each of their last two trips to the King Power Stadium.

Since their promotion to the top flight in 2014, Leicester have won five of their nine home games against Liverpool. 4. Expect goals

At the risk of casting a curse on the match, the sides have not drawn goalless in their last 19 encounters.

You’d have to go back to 2004 to find out the last time Liverpool and Leicester went 0-0 in this game, with goals scored in every encounter since the Foxes regained their Premier League status.

5. A welcome break

The nine-day gap between matches comes at the end of a busy period for the Reds. Liverpool played six games in 28 days in April and May, with the rest after Brentford giving the team a chance to enjoy some well-earned days at Barcelona.

Now rested and recovered, let’s hope the Reds are ready to take advantage of the break and demonstrate the class difference between the two teams.

6. Will Salah surpass Stevie?

Mohamed Salah has made a habit of stepping up this season and his debut goal against Brentford equaled one of the all-time greats. The Egyptian is now fifth in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts along with Steven Gerrard and has a chance to overtake the former captain by scoring against the Foxes.

Ian Rush’s tally of 346 in all competitions is still a long way off but Salah will no doubt have Billy Liddell’s tally of 228 in sight next season if he is looking to move up the ranks.

7. An unwanted triplet for the Fae?

The Leicester centre-back has been an integral part of the team this season, but his recent visit to Anfield was memorable for the 25-year-old. Faes scored twice from the wrong side to give Liverpool a 2-1 win in December and will be hoping not to give the Reds another hand on this occasion.

8. Mr. Reliable

You’d be forgiven for thinking all of James Milner’s cameos between now and the end of the campaign are sentimental, but recent appearance stats suggest otherwise.

Since captaining the Reds from right-back at home at Chelsea in January, the 37-year-old has played in 16 of Liverpool’s last 17 Premier League games and continues to provide invaluable leadership and experience right up to his final day at the club. .

Don’t be at all surprised if the midfielder is introduced from the bench on Monday evening. 9. Responsible Pawson

Craig Pawson will referee Monday night’s clash in a replay of the December return game.

Klopp has criticized Pawson in the past, questioning two key decisions in his side’s 3-2 defeat at West Ham in November 2021.

He will be joined on the touchline by Harry Lennard and Marc Perry, while Andre Marriner is the match’s fourth official.

ten Follow what’s happening with us!

Leicester v Liverpool is shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage will begin at 7:00 p.m. (BST) before the 8:00 p.m. kick-off.

If you want to get a glimpse of Liverpool, be sure to check out TIA’s live blog which will be available from 7.15pm that evening.

Please do it seven times in a row, Reds!