Trent Alexander-Arnold stunned David James, reacting on Twitter, when the Liverpool full-back unleashed a thunderbolt into the Newcastle United net to score on Thursday night.
The Reds beat the Magpies 3-1 at Anfield to stay within a point of Premier League-leaders Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side had opened a four-point lead at the top of the table after trashing Leeds United 7-0 on Tuesday for a division-high 13th win of the term so far.
Only the Citizens have won more often than Liverpool this season, with Newcastle marking their 12th of the campaign. The Reds are also the only side to have still only lost one match.
Alexander-Arnold was influential at both ends of the pitch to see Liverpool beat Newcastle. Before scoring his second goal of the term so far, the 23-year-old produced a vital last-ditch tackle on Ryan Fraser. He has also laid on seven assists, but is without one in four games.
Allan Saint-Maximin had freed Jacob Murphy down the Reds left-hand channel to pick out Fraser in the box. But Alexander-Arnold toe-poked the ball away before he could shoot.
Alexander-Arnold stuns James with late Liverpool goal
Alexander-Arnold’s likely goal-denying tackle on Fraser in Liverpool’s win over Newcastle would normally be a game-high moment in most matches. But the England international went one better in the 87th-minute when he crashed the ball into Martin Dubravka’s net.
Roberto Firmino laid the ball off to Alexander-Arnold completely unchallenged around 25-yards out from goal. Jonjo Shelvey rushed to try and close the distance, but the full-back picked his spot before the former Reds midfielder could get close.
Alexander-Arnold’s connection with the ball was perfect, as his shoot flew into the top corner of the Newcastle goal. The ball barely had any backlift as it sailed past Dubravka.
The Newcastle goalkeeper was able to get his fingertips on the ball, but could not deny Alexander-Arnold Liverpool’s third. And his strike stunned former Reds stopper James.
“What a strike!!!” James said. “Trent with a thunderbolt from 24 metres, wow!”
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