Liverpool opened up a gap at the top of the Premier League after Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo made good on their dominant display over Newcastle.
The Reds threatened to surrender more points when Alexander Isak scored in font of the Kop to rule out Mohamed Salah’s opener. The Egyptian missed a penalty, not for the first-time this season, as the first-half ended goalless before Jurgen Klopp’s subs paid off.
Jones and Gakpo were both thrown on as part of a triple substitution and the former tapped home to put them ahead once again with 16 minutes remaining. The Dutchman thought he’d made the game safe as he tapped home from a Salah cross for Liverpool’s third, only for Sven Botman to give Newcastle hope in the final stages.
It didn’t last long though as Salah was handed another chance to convert from the spot, which he took emphatically to make the game safe and leave the Reds with a brace to remember him as he prepares to jet off for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Both teams had goals ruled out in the first-half by VAR, who also backed referee Anthony Taylor on two penalty calls that will be debated.
Here’s five talking points from Anfield.
1 Deja vu for Newcastle
Last term Newcastle thought they were destined to leave Anfield with something with the game balanced heading into stoppage time, only for Fabio Carvalho to break Toon hearts with a goal deep into stoppage time.
Howe must’ve been feeling similarly as he got to the 70 minute mark with the game tied at 1-1. His Newcastle side had to withstand even more pressure than they did last season but looked as if they might head back to the north east with a morale boosting point.
Jones, Gakpo and Salah though had other ideas as Newcastle were once again, left to rue another visit to Anfield that saw them leave empty handed. This year they can have few complaints such was Liverpool’s dominance, as they opened up a gap at the top. It still will be a tough pill to swallow for those in black and white – and even more so as Botman’s header threatened a late comeback.
2 Anfield relieved
It was only a matter of weeks ago that Liverpool hammered Manchester United, only to leave with a point. Recently Arsenal escaped with a point despite a golden chance for the Reds to grab all three. In a title race those at Anfield know they can ill afford to let those points slip.
Throughout the clash against Newcastle there was an atmosphere that inspired the hosts initially, but it became apparent that everyone inside the stadium knew a goal needed to come sooner rather than later. Rarely do boos ring around Anfield at half-time, but that was the case on New Year’s Day.
Those jeers were likely a show of frustration, perhaps at some refereeing decisions that went against them. Klopp will have been relieved that the opener came so soon in the second-half as the tension threatened to build, but Isak’s equaliser was not in the script. Three late goals though ignited the famous ground as the hosts were not to be denied.
3 A tale of two forwards
Liverpool continued to feed Darwin Nunez but the Uruguayan continued to fail with the ending. Throughout his time at Anfield the former Benfica man has struggled with his final product, which is made all the more frustrating given how impressive the rest of his game is.
Nunez missed numerous chances, one of those given to him on a plate in the first-half. All the while he kept missing Isak stood up the other end, sporadically involved when Newcastle were able to get out of their defensive third.
But, like every good striker, he didn’t need several opportunities to make his mark. Having scored in this fixture last term, Isak showed he has the appetite as he cooly slotted past Alisson to level in a game which saw him living off slim pickings.
Nunez’s final contribution was to miss another chance, this time with his head, as he trudged off a rain-soaked Anfield pitch just seconds later.
4 Salah’s penalty redemption
For the prolific Egyptian chances from 12 yards should be considered gold dust. He’s long been on penalty duties, which has aided his incredible goalscoring haul. But his recent record could become cause for concern.
Salah saw a first-half penalty saved by Martin Dubravka after his, largely central strike, was palmed away by the Newcastle goalkeeper. It means the Liverpool forward had missed four of his last ten efforts from 12 yards with the others coming against Bournemouth twice and Arsenal.
He wasn’t to be denied though as he stepped up late on when the Reds were given another penalty by Taylor’s whistle. Salah sent Dubravka the wrong way, but Klopp’s decision to look away perhaps told its own story.
5 Newcastle’s surprising approach
For much of the first-half, when the visitors were defending the Kop end, their tactics seemed bizarre. There’s confidence but then there’s naivety and Newcastle were arguably in the latter category. A desire to play out from the back continued to thwart them.
Eddie Howe watched his side give the ball away on numerous occasions, often inviting pressure back on themselves. As the half wore on they enjoyed some success, but as a visiting side it was more luck than judgement that they remained in the game having allowed Liverpool to be as threatening as they were.
It also meant they could have few complaints when Jones did put Liverpool ahead for a second time before the hosts scored two more having registered the highest xG since records began.
