Liverpool allowed Newcastle United to retake the lead during their 2026/27 Premier League meeting, as substitute Joe Willock fired the hosts back in front, 2-1, at St. James’ Park. The result added another twist to what was already shaping up to be an eventful afternoon on Tyneside, with both sides trading blows throughout the contest.
Cody Gakpo had pulled the Reds level in the second half, briefly settling the visitors and offering hope that Arne Slot’s side could push on for a winner. That sense of parity, however, lasted only a few minutes before Newcastle struck back.
Around the 57th-minute mark, Willock broke forward on the counter-attack after Ryan Gravenberch gave the ball away just outside Newcastle’s penalty area. The Magpies substitute drove at the Liverpool defence before unleashing a powerful finish that gave the hosts a 2-1 lead and sent St. James’ Park into raptures.
The turnover has left plenty of Liverpool supporters frustrated with Gravenberch, with criticism quickly spreading across social media. Several fans on X (Twitter) pointed out that this was not an isolated lapse, noting that the Dutch midfielder had been caught in possession in dangerous areas on more than one occasion during the match, each time resulting in a Newcastle goal.
The backlash also extended to Liverpool’s substitution choices, with a number of supporters questioning why Florian Wirtz was the player withdrawn rather than Gravenberch, given the direct role his giveaways played in shifting momentum back in Newcastle’s favour. For a Liverpool side already searching for consistency in midfield, the mounting frustration among fans reflects growing concern over how easily possession was surrendered in such a high-stakes fixture.
