Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed his bewilderment at Newcastle United's approach during a high-octane 3-2 victory at St James' Park. The match, marked by a late winner from 16-year-old forward Rio Ngumoha, saw Newcastle rally from a 2-0 deficit despite being reduced to 10 men.

Slot's comments came after a game where the ball was in play for only 40.8% of the time, the lowest in a Premier League match since February 2010. "I'm not too sure if I saw a football match," Slot remarked. "It was set-piece after set-piece, long throws. It didn't have a lot to do with tactics. But I liked a lot how we stood strong."

The match was also overshadowed by the ongoing saga of Alexander Isak's potential move to Liverpool, adding to the already charged atmosphere. Newcastle's Anthony Gordon was sent off for a reckless challenge on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, contributing to a total of 32 fouls, the highest in a Premier League game this season.

Slot praised his team's resilience, especially after going 1-0 up in a challenging first half. "Newcastle going down to 10 men, you would expect is a big plus for us but when a goalkeeper takes every free-kick, there is not much hope if you are one player up," he explained.

Gordon later apologized for his red card, emphasizing his commitment to the club and the unique atmosphere at St James' Park. "I was just trying to create energy in the game and I mistimed the tackle," Gordon said. "I also want to apologise to Virgil. I would never intend to tackle somebody like this on purpose."

The match not only highlighted the tactical battle between the two teams but also the emotional and psychological aspects of high-stakes football, making it a memorable encounter in the Premier League season.