Gary Neville has said that “panicking” Newcastle centre-back Jamaal Lascelles cost his side two goals in the 3-2 defeat against Liverpool on Saturday night.
Rafa Benitez’s side put in a brilliant performance across the pitch and almost did enough to cost Liverpool the title, but a late goal from Divock Origi broke the hearts at St James’ Park.
And, talking after the game on Sky Sports (Saturday, 7pm), Neville was full of praise for Salomon Rondon, but singled out Lascelles for blame.
“The centre-halves of Newcastle have gone missing for both goals. Lascelles was panicking and then he lost his footing [for the first goal].
“Virgil van Dijk can’t believe how much space he’s got.”
OPINION
Some pundits were asking whether Rafa Benitez might ask his team to do Liverpool a favour on Saturday night. That obviously got under the skin of both him and the Newcastle players because they came out fired up at St James’ Park and played like they were the ones chasing the title. They matched Liverpool right across the pitch and put in one of the performances of the season, despite ending up on the losing end of the score line. Liverpool have come up with so many late goals and they did it again last night, although Newcastle fans are right to be upset by Fabinho, who appeared to dive for the free-kick that eventually won it for Liverpool. Now Newcastle fans will be desperately hoping that Benitez agrees a new contract – it’s hard to imagine Newcastle without him at the moment.