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 vs Newcastle
Liverpool are unbeaten in all 14 league games against Newcastle since a 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park in December 2015, two months into Jurgen Klopp’s reign.
Newcastle must be ‘near perfect’ to end miserable Anfield record, says Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe has told Newcastle United they need to be “near perfect” if they are to address their dreadful record at Liverpool.
The Magpies will run out at Anfield on Monday evening having not won there in the Premier League since April 1994, when Rob Lee and Andy Cole were their goalscorers, and having lost their last five home and away against Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Newcastle came close to ending that run last season when they led through Alexander Isak’s debut goal with 29 minutes remaining, before Roberto Firmino’s equaliser set up substitute Fabio Carvalho to snatch victory for Liverpool in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Eddie Howe says Newcastle must be ‘near perfect’ to end miserable Anfield record
The Magpies have not won a league game at Anfield since April 1994.
Howe vs Klopp?
Will tonight’s match be a tactical battle between Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe? In part yes, but Howe isn’t focusing on that.
He said: “I don’t think it’s me against Jurgen Klopp, it’s Liverpool against Newcastle and that’s how we have to look at this game.
“As I said earlier, we have to be very, very good in every aspect of our game because if there’s a weakness in your structure or in your set-up, then they will find it. They’ve got quality players.
“It’s always a great experience to go to Anfield, it’s always a brilliant arena to play in. For us, we learnt some painful lessons last year. Hopefully we can use that experience to good effect this time.”
Newcastle need to be ‘near-perfect’ says Howe
Eddie Howe knows that Newcastle have come through a difficult period and now have to take on the Premier League leaders at Anfield.
“There’ve been a couple of painful games against Liverpool, for sure - the game last season at Anfield was particularly tough for us.” said Howe of the recent history between the two teams.
“This season wasn’t any easier. I think the positive thing in both of those games is we performed really well and were competitive, and gave Liverpool a really good game.
“I think, for us, we need to be near-perfect in this game. I think this is a really tough game for us. They’ve performed really well at home especially, they’re consistent, a really good team. So for us, the challenge is that we need to re-find our best form and we need to be mentally very strong.”
Jurgen Klopp on facing Newcastle and what’s to come in 2024
Jurgen Klopp spoke about tonight’s match against Newcastle and explained how he sees Liverpool’s current situation as Premier League leaders.
“Look, Newcastle did incredibly well and, OK, it’s unlucky you have that amount of injuries but then on top of that, you play international football, which they didn’t play now 50 times in a row.” he said, “So the whole system has to get used to that – I mean the system of the players.
“It’s completely different – if you have a normal training week or if you have pretty much only recovery and then have to go again for a big, big, big game. Premier League games are all big, Champions League games are all big. So that’s us a little bit. It was, for sure, a little bit of a problem but they still do really well and in all the games they lost they had really good spells.
“The games I saw – and the analysis only starts now really – they had really good spells, they have a really good idea. But at one point Eddie [Howe] had to play too often the same line-up, definitely, that’s clear with all these games. And the boys did incredibly well – I think he’s said that as well. You have to really give credit to the players for the effort they have put in. But it was pretty much the same line-up for a long, long time and then the guys who play all the time get tired and the guys who come back have no rhythm. We had that situation plenty of times.
“But now they have five, six days – like we have – between the games and that will help both teams, definitely. We played five games in 13 days – it’s absolutely insane as well. We somehow came through that but now it’s about using that extra recovery time because we are still in all cup competitions.
“That means we have a busy January as well, other teams probably have a lesser-busy January, which is then helpful, and we all have to get through that as well. From February on, we all have the same schedule again and then we will see.”
Joe Gomez set for overdue Liverpool milestone after overcoming adversity
Jurgen Klopp said Joe Gomez had never asked to leave Liverpool and said the club’s longest-serving player is “absolutely at home” at Anfield.
Gomez is set to bring up 200 Liverpool appearances in January after a time on Merseyside that has been interrupted by serious injuries and spells on the bench. Klopp admitted the defender had a difficult campaign last year and, partly due to injuries, he had only started 25 league games in the three seasons before this one.
But the 26-year-old has excelled in three positions so far this season and, in the absence of the injured Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, is Klopp’s first-choice left-back for the next few weeks.
Joe Gomez set for overdue Liverpool milestone after overcoming adversity
The stand-in left-back has impressed with Kostas Tsimikas and Andy Robertson injured
Liverpool vs Newcastle prediction
Liverpool will face a tough test against a resurging Newcastle side looking to get in contention of the Champions League spots.
Consistent performances and the Anfield crowd will spur on Jurgen Klopp’s men and ensure they edge a well fought contest and keep hiold of their place at the top of the league.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle.
Liverpool vs Newcastle predicted line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Jones, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Miley, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Early team news
Newcastle’s Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes are unavailable for Newcastle and continue their rehabilitation from respective injuires though no immediate return dates are known.
Jamaal Lascelles doesn’t have a serious knock according to Eddie Howe but is a doubt for the match. Joelinton should feature after coming off the bench against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
Jurgen Klopp provided updates on Alexis Mac Allister, who is close to returning to team training, Andy Robertson, who is not, Thiago Alcantara, who may be fit for a January return, and Stefan Bajectic, who is being monitored by the medical team to see when he can return.
Mac Allister has the best chance of featuring against Newcastle, probably off the bench.
How to watch Liverpool vs Newcastle
Liverpool vs Newcastle will kick off at 8pm GMT on Monday 1 January at Anfield.
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event with coverage starting at 6.30pm GMT, and can be streamed also via the Sky Go app.
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