Liverpool vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

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Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a spectacular goal as the Reds bounced back from the loss of three players to suspected positive COVID-19 tests to beat Newcastle United 3-1 in their Premier League clash at Anfield on Thursday.

Liverpool move onto 40 points from 17 games, one behind leaders Manchester City who beat Leeds United 7-0 on Tuesday.

With Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones all ruled out for the hosts, Jonjo Shelvey struck the opener for Newcastle against the run of play in the seventh minute, with a swerving, dipping drive past unsighted goalkeeper Allison Becker.

The lead lasted 14 minutes before Diogo Jota fired home the rebound after Martin Dubravka saved his initial header to level, with Newcastle’s players complaining the ball should have been put out of play as Isaac Hayden was down injured in his own box.

Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead four minutes later and Alexander-Arnold got the third with an 87th-minute rocket to wrap up a win that leaves Newcastle second-bottom on 10 points.

Liverpool vs Newcastle

• Liverpool: Alisson; A-Arnold, Konate, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Thiago, O-Chamberlain; Salah, Jota, Mane
• Newcastle: Dubravka; Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Lewis; Shelvey, Hayden; Murphy, Joelinton, Fraser; Saint-Maximin
• 7 min: Jonjo Shelvey stuns Anfield with curling long-range strike
• 21 min: Diogo Jota taps home Liverpool’s equaliser
• 25 min: Mohamed Salah pounces on rebound to give Reds lead
• 87 min: Trent Alexander-Arnold scores stunning third

[16 December 2021 21:09 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

51 mins: Salah gets away with a poor pass inside to Henderson as Shelvey intercepts the ball and looks to play Saint-Maximin free on the counter. He overhits his forward pass though and fires the ball out of play on the left-hand side.

Hayden then tussles with Konate as he presses the ball but the Liverpool defender deals with the danger before he’s knocked to ground.

[16 December 2021 21:05 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

48 mins: Encouraging signs for Newcastle as Jacob Murphy gets forward on the right side and whips a cross into the box. Saint-Maximin tries to get to it but Alisson beats him to the ball and plucks it out of the air.

[16 December 2021 21:03 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

Kick off: Liverpool get the match back underway. The Reds haven’t lost a league game in December since 2016 when they were defeated by a Bournemouth side managed by Eddie Howe.

There hasn’t been any further changes from either side.

[16 December 2021 21:01 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

A new record for the Reds:

[16 December 2021 20:56 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

Mo Salah has never failed to score against Newcastle at Anfield, He equals Jamie Vardy’s record of scoring or creating a goal in 15 consecutive Premier League matches with what is his 15th Premier League goal of the season.

Salah has 24 Premier League goal involvements this season (15 goals, 9 assists) - in Premier League history, only Alan Shearer in 1994-95 has registered more before Christmas in a single campaign (25 - 16 goals, 9 assists).

(Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

[16 December 2021 20:54 · Michael Jones]

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[16 December 2021 20:52 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

Jonjo Shelvey’s goal was his third in the Premier League against Liverpool - of players to have previously played for the Reds in the competition, only Nicolas Anelka (5) has scored more against them after leaving.

(AFP via Getty Images)

[16 December 2021 20:50 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

Jonjo Shelvey opened the scoring for Newcastle with a glorious swerving strike from range that left Alisson with no chance to stop it. Diogo Jota netted the Liverpool equaliser before Mo Salah scored again to put the Reds in front.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

[16 December 2021 20:47 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

45+2 mins: Konate wins the ball in the box but takes out Hayden in the process. Newcastle want a penalty but referee Mike Dean isn’t interested. He blows for half-time and Liverpool head into the break with the advantage.

[16 December 2021 20:46 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 2 - 1 Newcastle

45 mins: Two minutes of added time to play in the first half. Liverpool have come from behind to lead 2-1 but the game has at times been fairly open and Newcastle will feel there’s enough in it for them to get an equaliser if they can keep Liverpool from scoring again.