Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool: 7 Biggest Factors In Unexpected Victory

4. Pardew's Mind Games

A big part of Brendan Rodgers' game plan probably came down to the boasting of Newcastle's "resurgent" manager, and the press conference comments that looked like silly muscle-flexing before the game. With Man City vanquished, Pardew said he was strangely confident, and said he'd know exactly how Liverpool would play. His smile suggested he smelled another scalp - something he had said he was pretty good at - and Rodgers clearly misread the perceived arrogance as a statement of intent to play confidently and attack. To say he misjudged Pardew's mentality is a considerable understatement, and while the Newcastle manager conceded he had been shocked by Liverpool's formation (he shouldn't have been, they've played 3 at the back in possession most of the season), he was even more right that Rodgers wouldn't know his.