Liverpool extended Newcastle’s wretched run with a 4-2 win at Anfield on Monday, taking a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Mohamed Salah scored twice. Jurgen Klopp’s team should have won more after Martin Dubravka saved Salah’s first-half penalty in 10 saves. After Salah, Curtis Jones, and Cody Gakpo scored in the second half to defeat Newcastle for the eighth time in eight games, Salah made atonement from the spot.
Salah puts Liverpool three points ahead in Premier League
Liverpool leads Manchester City and Arsenal by five points heading into the Christmas break, but Aston Villa is a surprise challenger in second. “A special game, special night,” Klopp remarked. “My squad played great. We began energetically. Everyone saw Dubravka or we hid the score. “Super game. I loved everything until the goals we conceded.” Newcastle, however, remain ninth and 11 points behind the top four as Eddie Howe’s focus rises. The Magpies have the second-worst Premier League away record with five points from 10 games.
Liverpool had the most anticipated goals in a Premier League game of 7.53, but Howe’s men avoided an embarrassing result in stormy conditions at Anfield. We’re fighting to regain our best. The effort and determination existed. Howe said we’ll be alright if we keep seeing that. “We’re missing a lot of players and we’ve had a lot of tough fixtures in a congested December.” Dubravka rejects Darwin Newcastle’s injury crisis and slumping form have made it difficult for Dubravka to replace Nick Pope.
But the Slovakian was in excellent form, denying Darwin Nunez several times. Luis Diaz had a goal midway through the first half, but Nunez was offside. In the box, Sven Botman upended Diaz. Dubravka saved Salah’s 150th Premier League goal for Liverpool. In his final game before the African Cup of Nations, the Egyptian has missed four of his past 10 spot-kicks for Liverpool. “I thought ‘are you going to be leave for the national team with that performance?'” Salah stated of his first-half performance.
“I just had to really focus, step up and make the difference and managed to do so.” Liverpool’s pressure paid off early in the second half as Nunez calmly picked out Salah for a tap-in. Newcastle equalized five minutes after falling against the run of play. Alexander Isak brilliantly timed his run to latch onto Anthony Gordon’s through ball and slot past Alisson Becker. That shock did not impact the game as one-way traffic continued toward the Newcastle goal.
Nunez’s night ended in anguish when he missed another great chance by heading wide. Klopp substituted Diogo Jota and Gakpo, who scored what Nunez couldn’t. After Jota set up Jones for a tap-in, Gakpo’s scuffed effort from Salah’s cross surprised Dubravka. Newcastle’s Botman header pulled them within one. Jota got a second penalty despite Dubravka’s slow response to contact, ending any chance of a comeback. Klopp could not watch on the touchline, but his talisman did not disappoint to ensure Liverpool had a joyful 2024.
