Liverpool beat Newcastle United 4-2 in an Anfield classic to move three points clear at the top.
As we exited 2022 and entered 2023, I remember writing: ‘Start as you mean to go on. Unless you’re Liverpool, then please don’t.’ This came after a 3-1 defeat to Brentford saw the Reds sit 6th in the Premier League.
They’d continue their poor form to end January 10th in the table. But, how the tables have turned going into 2024. Liverpool now sit top of the Premier League standings, and had a chance to go three points clear of Aston Villa (five of Manchester City and Arsenal) with a victory over struggling Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe’s side had endured six defeats in their last seven in all competitions, including a 3-1 humbling by Nottingham Forest courtesy of a Chris Wood hat-trick on Boxing Day to finish off 2023.
There was a welcomed return for Alexis Mac Allister, who was named on Liverpool’s bench for the first time since his injury suffered at Bramall Lane at the start of December.
As expected, the Reds flew out of the blocks, launching attack after attack at any given opportunity. One of the few criticisms of Liverpool for the majority of this season has been not creating an awful lot of chances in games. In spite of this, they’ve been able to find ways of winning more often than not.
Since the Manchester United game, the tables have completely turned, with Liverpool having 129 efforts (including against Newcastle United), averaging 25.8 shots per game. Truly outstanding output. Yet, they failed to beat Manchester United and Arsenal.
The first great chance for Liverpool against Newcastle United was from Trent Alexander-Arnold whose effort inside two minutes bounced just wide of Martin Dubravka’s post.
Luis Diaz appeared to open the scoring at Anfield, after Darwin Nunez’s unselfish pass back to the Colombian resulted in Diaz’s finish into the Kop end. No goal, Stuart Attwell got his crayons out to devastate the Liverpool faithful, finding Nunez in an offside position.
Just moments later Diaz was brought down in the box, with Anthony Taylor having no option other than to award the penalty. Mohamed Salah stepped up to take it, but lashed at the goalkeeper, who was able to make a comfortable spot-kick save.
In what can only be described as a whirlwind of a first half of football – Alexander-Arnold’s wild effort from close to the byline chipped the crossbar before going out for a goal-kick. It goes right up there with the ‘greatest goals that never were’ alongside Luis Suarez’s strike against Arsenal (you know the one).
The second half began just as the first finished, with chance after chance for Liverpool. This time, however, there was no messing about. Mohamed Salah missed one chance but he wouldn’t miss another. Luis Diaz provided a superb, defence-splitting pass to Darwin Nunez who teed up for Salah for an unmissable tap-in goal.
Despite their dominance, the Reds weren’t able to hold on to their lead. Anthony Gordon wriggled past Alexander-Arnold and delivered a perfectly-timed ball for Alexander Isak to run onto and finish past Alisson.
Liverpool wouldn’t regain their advantage until Diogo Jota was introduced. The Portuguese forward squared the ball to in-form Curtis Jones to tap home. From a Reds perspective, they hoped for no more drama.
Fears of Newcastle fluking anything were put to bed, albeit temporarily, by Cody Gakpo as he scored Liverpool’s third after Mohamed Salah’s beautiful trivela assist. A goal typifying the player Salah has become, just stunning.
I write temporarily because defender Sven Botman rose high just minutes later to half the deficit for his side from a corner. Newcastle were taking the few chances they had been presented. It felt as if Liverpool weren’t.
Alexis Mac Allister marked his return to first-team action with an unbelievable ‘almost-assist’ for Diogo Jota. I say ‘almost-assist’, as Jota was close to dodging the ‘keeper and putting it into an empty net. Minimal contact induced the forward to fall to the ground, winning a second penalty for Liverpool of the game.
Salah stepped up and dispatched. There would be no late drama at Anfield as Liverpool wrapped up their 4-2 win over Eddie Howe’s Toon Army.
This was Liverpool’s sixth consecutive win in the Premier League against Newcastle United, a run stretching back to April 2021, where Joe Willock’s late strike earned the Magpies a point at Anfield.
Remarkably, the run also means that Newcastle have gone seven consecutive seasons since their promotion in 2017/18 without beating Liverpool. The Magpies will have to wait until 2024/25 to get their first win over the Reds since 2015.
Liverpool don’t now play in the Premier League until 21 January, when they visit Bournemouth. They’re next foray will be a visit to the Emirates Stadium as they take on Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.
Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez, Szoboszlai (Gravenberch 64), Endo (Mac Allister 75), Jones, Salah, Nunez (Gakpo 64), Diaz (Jota 64).
Newcastle United team: Dubravka, Livramento, Schar, Botman, Burn (Hall 82), Miley (Almiron 54), Guimaraes, Longstaff, Gordon, Isak, Joelinton (Lascelles 82).
Read More Liverpool Coverage:
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- Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal: Salah Scores As Reds Drop Points To Gunners
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- Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United: Reds Miss Chance To Top The Pile With Anfield Stalemate
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