Liverpool vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Mo Salah fires Reds clear at top of table
Liverpool 4-2 Newcastle: Jurgen Klopp’s men extended their lead at the top of the table after cracker at Anfield
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Liverpool move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table after triumphing in a brilliantly contest with Newcastle at Anfield.
A first-half of wasted chances for the hosts was epitomised by Mo Salah’s penalty kick. Stepping up after Luis Diaz had been brought down in the box he drilled the shot straight at Martin Dubravka who palmed it away. Two disallowed goals, one at either end, saw the teams head into the break all square as Jurgen Klopp pondered how to get the best out of his team.
The ignition came from Salah. He tapped them in front then supplied a couple of fine passes into the box to set up the goals from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo. Alexander Isak have briefly equalised for Newcastle and Sven Botman nodded home a consolation but Salah had the last word.
Another chance from the spot saw him send the Newcastle goalkeeper the wrong way and give Liverpool a fourth to send them clear of second placed Aston Villa and start the new year with a win.
Relive all the action from Anfield below, plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
15 mins: Newcastle have settled down after Liverpool’s rapid start. The visitors seem more composed on the ball now and are spreading across the pitch to open up space and pathways for runners.
Liverpool continue to press brilliantly though so, for now, it’s safe to say they’re on top.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
12 mins: Szoboszlai swings a corner kick into the middle of the box for Liverpool but Dubravka confidently comes out to punch it away.
He only manages to send it to Alexander-Arnold but the defender’s cross back into the box gets dealt with.
Chance! Liverpool don’t rest on their laurels for long. Alexander-Arnold feeds Darwin Nunez who takes the ball to the edge of the box before slipping it to Mo Salah.
Salah curls a pass back to him and Nunez pokes it towards goal only for Dubravka to stick out a hand and keep it out. The ball comes to Curtis Jones but his shot comes to nothing.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
9 mins: Anthony Gordon versus Joe Gomez could be an interesting battle and one, for Newcastle’s sake, that Gordon must get the better of.
He’s brought down by the overzealous defender but Newcastle don’t make full use of the free kick.
Instead, Sean Longstaff manages to recover possession high up the pitch and feed it up to Alexander Isal. He sends a pass into the right side of the bos for Lewis Miley who takes control then fizzes a shot at goal.
It gets blocked.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
6 mins: Joe Gomez wins the ball back in the middle of the pitch as Newcastle attempt to pass their way out of danger. Liverpool win a free kick over on the left wing but it’s lofted straight into the arms of Martin Dubravka.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
3 mins: Close! Liverpool’s start to this match has been superb. They force Newcastle to defend deep before slipping Luis Diaz into the box.
His cutback bounces around and comes to Dominik Szobozslai who squares it across to Trent Alexander-Arnold. The right-back takes a low curling shot but sees it deflect wide of the far post.
Kick off! Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
The rain is pounding down at Anfield as the ball gets rolling. Liverpool kick off the match and work the ball to Ibrahima Konate who boots the ball over to the left side of the pitch.
Newcastle defend the opening pass but the Reds work it across to Mo Salah. He drives at Dan Burn before slotting a pass over to Wataru Endo.
The midfielder attempts to control the ball inside the ba#ox but he’s hurried and Newcastle work it away.
Liverpool vs Newcastle
Here come the teams.
Dan Burn leads out Newcastle in the absence of Kieran Trippier who misses the match due to injury. Virgil van Dijk captains Liverpool who are looking to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Which way will this one go?
Pre-match thoughts from Eddie Howe
“In the last game, they both [Trippier and Wilson] picked up injuries. I don’t think they’re too serious. Our schedule was that we were playing every three days. It was a really difficult month and we’ve had to protect the players that we’ve got.
“Manchester United were good defensively. We can try and take tips from that. The atmosphere will be red hot here at Anfield.
“We weren’t able to train normally with the schedule we had. It was an incredibly tough month because we didn’t have the ability to rotate the squad. We have to look to the future and today is a big test for us. Hopefully, we can start to well.”
Virgil van Dijk didn’t watch football over Christmas
Liverpool’s captain says he prepared for tonight’s match by not watching any football over the festive period, instead choosing to enjoy the time with his family.
Asked if he paid any attention to Liverpool’s title rivals during this time, Van Dijk said: “Not at all. I didn’t even watch football. I was spending time with my family. We’ve been away so much recently.
“We’ve had a couple of days to spend with our families before we focus on another big game on New Year’s Day.
“I don’t speak about winning the league at this point. I don’t think anyone in this team will do that because we know from experience that anything can happen.
“What we are striving for is consistency and just winning the game ahead of us, which has been key to our success previously.”
Liverpool vs Newcastle
Liverpool-born Anthony Gordon’s next Premier League appearance will be his 100th.
The last Newcastle player to score the opening Premier League goal of a calendar year was Alan Shearer in a 3-0 home win against Leeds United on 1 January 1997.
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