The Magpies had their starting full-backs from the beginning for only the second time this season in the win over Manchester City.
Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall had both started for Newcastle just once this season. It was in a 0-0 draw away at Bournemouth, playing as wing-backs in a back-five.
They did so again in a difficult challenge, facing an in-form Man City side that had won each of their previous four games. But that run ended at St. James’ Park, with the Magpies coming out on top.
How can Livramento and Hall give Newcastle a new look?
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Upgrade relative to their replacements
Before talking about Livramento and Hall’s impact, let’s address the full-backs who have replaced them lately.
Dan Burn is a big and slow centre-back, not really suited to playing as an energic full-back that suits Eddie Howe’s style. Kieran Trippier is 35 years old and his best days are past him – despite still being impactful and useful. Emil Krafth is just not a Premier League level right-back.
So their return provide an instant upgrade just by them being themselves. And it makes sense, considering few teams have starting and back-up options of similar quality for the same position. But within this specific context, Livramento and Hall are extremely important to the Magpies’ ambitions.
Complementing backline and frontline
Malick Thiaw has been a revelation for Newcastle this season, adding more youthful energy to a squad full of heavy centre-backs. It’s a different profile than what Dan Burn, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles offer.
Livramento and Hall are similar in that manner, as energetic full-backs who have the ability to go up and down the pitch all the time. Their return elevates and ‘invigorates’ the Magpies’ backline.
It could also help them push their lines higher up a little bit whenever Eddie Howe wants. They allow the team to press more and still have energy to track back when necessary. Newcastle have been most impressive when trying to suffocate teams – especially the ones like Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
The pair can also offer more passing options to the wingers, who often look isolated trying to create something out of nowhere. It would make the team more of a collective unit going forward, considering that Dan Burn rarely goes to the byline and Kieran Trippier doesn’t overlap as much as he used to in his younger days.
Better efficiency overall
Most of Newcastle’s struggles this season have come in the Premier League. For some reason it feels like they show up against the best teams and in ‘big games’ overall. Their Champions League campaign has been superb so far, winning three out of four and losing only to Barcelona – having played well against them.
Domestically, however, it hasn’t been the same. Burn and Trippier have suffered in their defensive duties, while Livramento and Hall have excelled.
| Tino Livramento | Kieran Trippier | Lewis Hall | Dan Burn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tackles | 8 | 10 | 9 | 15 |
| Dribbled past | 4 | 11 | 2 | 11 |
| Duel success rate | 57% | 45% | 63% | 46% |
It has still been only two games with both as starters this season, a very small sample size. And they did compete in games against the best teams before, even without Livramento and Hall.
But they were both solid in their win over Man City, closing down out of possession and always present in the attacking half near the wingers. The extra attention they draw from defenders could be the difference in leaving Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy with more room to operate out wide or cut inside with diagonal runs to hurt the opposition.
It probably won’t be linear and it definitely doesn’t mean Newcastle are unbeatable with the pair. But they most certainly make life easier for their teammates, provide more quality for Eddie Howe and elevate their side’s ceiling.