LFC Live - 'Ramsdale starts next game' - Newcastle fans explode as Nick Pope to be 'axed' by Eddie Howe

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Credit: Imago/Sky Sports

Chris Smith

Tue 26 August 2025 7:30, UK

Nick Pope came in for flak on social media for failing to keep out Ryan Gravenberch’s opening goal for Liverpool against Newcastle on Monday night.

Monday’s clash was a grudge meeting between the two sides locked all summer in a battle over Alexander Isak — not to mention Liverpool beating Newcastle to the signing of Hugo Ekitike.

Backed by a raucous St.

James’ Park crowd, the Magpies made an electrifying start to the match and passed up numerous opportunities to take the lead.

But all of Newcastle’s work was undone in the 35th minute, when Gravenberch opened the scoring with only Liverpool‘s second shot of the match, before Hugo Ekitike doubled their lead after the break in what was an eventual dramatic 3-2 victory for the champions.

Receiving the ball from fellow Dutchman Cody Gakpo, Gravenberch needed no second invitation to shoot from 25 yards out, with the ball going through the legs of Bruno Guimaraes and snug inside the bottom corner.

Newcastle goalkeeper Pope was completely caught out by the effort, standing flat-footed, having been preparing for a shot toward the opposite side of his net.

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The precision of Gravenberch’s shot would have made it difficult for any goalkeeper to reach, but that didn’t stop Newcastle fans from fuming at Pope’s efforts — even calling for him to be replaced by summer arrival Aaron Ramsdale, who has so far sat on the bench for his new club.

Unfortunately for Newcastle, fans of other clubs also piled in to pour scorn on Pope, whose place now might well be under threat for upcoming matches.

Football Insider verdict

Newcastle showed almost complete domination against Liverpool in the first half on Monday.

But with Isak out of the picture, Eddie Howe’s men lacked conviction and a finishing touch in the final third, passing up numerous chances to open the scoring.

With a little help from goalkeeper Alisson, Liverpool hung in there and pounced at the first sniff of an opportunity, with Gravenberch unleashing a superb finish that, despite what fans have said, left Pope with pretty much no chance.

The mark of champions?

Former England, Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton certainly thinks so.

First-half stats vs LiverpoolNewcastle UnitedShots6Shots on target1Expected goals0.64Goals0Newcastle’s first-half stats vs Liverpool (FotMob)

“It is a brilliant finish.

Is that the mark of champions?”

Things went from bad to worse for the Magpies when Anthony Gordon was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Virgil van Dijk following a VAR review.

From there, the match went haywire, with Newcastle dragging themselves level against all the odds thanks to goals from Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula.

All of that, just to suffer last-second heartbreak as 16-year-old Rio Nguhoma bagged a winner in the 110th minute.

Perhaps if Newcastle had taken their early chances, this game could have been very different — though it’s hard to criticise them too much, given the bravery and determination they showed.