In fact, he would never go quietly. Mohamed Salah sealed the Africa Cup of Nations with two goals and an assist, while Liverpool beat a stubborn Newcastle to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League. Jürgen Klopp will already be counting the days to return.
Salah’s final match against Liverpool before representing Egypt in Ivory Coast was a test of the leaders’ composure and resources at the end of a grueling festive schedule. They passed convincingly. It was a tough challenge as Eddie Howe’s visiting players defended desperately and drew with Alexander Isak but, not for the first time this season, Liverpool’s leading goalscorer and his options on the bench made the difference.
Relating to: Liverpool vs Newcastle: Premier League – live
Klopp’s side have gained a six-point advantage over Arsenal since Mikel Arteta’s side left Anfield top of the table 10 days ago.
Injuries have undoubtedly contributed to Newcastle’s recent troubles; Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier joined the list of absentees here, but Howe’s starting line-up at Anfield wasn’t a million miles away from the team that qualified for last season’s Champions League. Lack of confidence in the ball was a bigger problem for the away side than lack of options and was hardly surprising after six defeats in the previous seven games. However, Newcastle managed to frustrate Liverpool with a deep defense and limit their opportunities to break through a compact midfield.
Liverpool started at a furious pace; Both players and spectators felt it was an inviting opportunity to take the lead at the top of the points table. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s powerful strike narrowly edged Martin Dubravka’s goal after 90 seconds. The Newcastle goalkeeper made a fine save to parry Darwin Núñez’s effort after joining Salah and Alexander-Arnold to open up the visiting defense for the first time. The rebound fell to Curtis Jones but Fabian Schär was in a good position to block in front of the goal line.
The home side dominated possession but struggled to break their lines as Joelinton and Anthony Gordon approached Newcastle’s three-man midfield. Liverpool scored the first time they succeeded, but Luis Díaz’s effort was disallowed for offside. Virgil van Dijk released Jones in space and the midfielder smashed the Newcastle defense with a perfect ball to Núñez, who passed Díaz and converted confidently to make his 50th Liverpool start. The assistant referee’s flag against Núñez was supported by VAR. Finally.
Newcastle’s postponement should have lasted seconds. Liverpool immediately regained possession and Díaz danced past Dan Burn in the area before yielding to Sven Botman’s challenge. Referee Anthony Taylor immediately pointed to the spot, VAR eventually agreed and Salah stepped up to take the penalty. His 150th league goal for Liverpool was calling him out, but Salah shot wide and Dubravka cleared the ball. Alexander-Arnold was first to the loose ball but sliced high towards the Kop.
Dubravka performed well in the first half. The substitute goalkeeper once again denied Núñez as Botman slid in pursuit of a long ball, and the Uruguayan international was left one-on-one with Dubravka, who also saved the striker’s follow-up attempt. Alexander-Arnold beat the keeper with a brave half-volley from a seemingly impossible angle that kissed the far post.
With Alexander Isak isolated at Newcastle, chances were high and limited to counter-attacks. Joe Gomez blocked Lewis Miley’s early shot, which Isak fired into space from the right wing, while Burn had a header disallowed for a slight offside against the lone striker after a neatly composed break.
Anfield became increasingly angry at Taylor’s willingness to let the game run its course, or over-indulgence towards Joelinton would be another way of putting it. The Brazilian somehow escaped a yellow card for bringing down Dominik Szoboszlai while the Liverpool midfielder was in full flow, and a foul on Díaz on the edge of the penalty area also went unpunished. When the yellow card was finally shown and Alexander-Arnold was shown to clear the ball, the Liverpool defender stormed off in anger and approached the referee. Ibrahima can be grateful that Konaté recognized the warning signs and ran upfield to remove the vice-captain. Joelinton eventually received a yellow card for a foul on Konaté in the 67th minute.
Liverpool’s growing frustration was eased after the restart when Salah scored his 150th league goal for the club. Newcastle were punished brutally on a rare foray into the Liverpool penalty area, with Szoboszlai finding Díaz in space on the left. The Colombia international rushed forward and picked out the unmarked Núñez on the right with a beautiful pass. Immediately on the sidelines, Núñez put in a simple tap-in for Salah to reach the final milestone. Roberto Firmino, who was watching, enjoyed his former teammate becoming the fifth player in Liverpool history to reach 150 league goals.
Klopp’s side came close to doubling their advantage after Salah returned the favor to Núñez and Dubravka saved from point-blank range. The centre-forward once again denied Núñez when he approached from the right, and last-ditch defending prevented Jones, Díaz and substitute Cody Gakpo from getting on the scoresheet.
Despite offering little in the way of attacking force, Newcastle quickly and stylishly equalised, when Gordon found himself in space on the left and unleashed a perfectly weighted pass that saw Isak race in behind the Liverpool defence. Isak took his first chance to make the night count by firing a precise shot past Alisson and into the far corner.
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The substitutes contributed greatly to Liverpool’s challenge and another came with 15 minutes remaining as Diogo Jota set up the second. Jota advanced down the right before finding Salah, then continuing to run into the area where he received the return ball and squared it up for Jones to convert from close range. Another substitute, Gakpo, added a third as he flicked a perfect cross goalwards from Salah, who exposed the Newcastle defense with a flick of the outside of his boot.
Botman pulled a goal back for Newcastle when he headed home from a corner, but Liverpool avoided a tense finale as Jota slotted into goal and shot as he rounded Dubravka. This time Salah made no mistake from the penalty spot, sending Dubravka the wrong way and putting Liverpool three points clear at the top.