LIVERPOOL TOOK ANOTHER step towards a second Premier League title in five years as a 2-0 victory over Newcastle extended their lead to 13 points.
Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister in either half ensured Arne Slot’s side capitalised on another slip-up by second-placed Arsenal to leave few inside Anfield in any doubt May – or maybe sooner – will bring a record-equalling 20th championship trophy to Merseyside.
Slot, sat in the stands at the start of his two-match touchline ban for his Merseyside derby red card, and his senior players will not countenance such thinking but it is difficult to imagine a team which has lost just one league match this season letting their lead slip.
Certainly not playing the type of fluid football which a Newcastle side shorn of the considerable talents of Alexander Isak, nursing a groin problem, struggled to contain in a match billed as a dress rehearsal for next month’s Carabao Cup final.
There was no goal for the in-form Mohamed Salah, but he did provide the assist for Mac Allister to claim his 52nd goal involvement of the campaign.
Szoboszlai’s 11th-minute goal was Liverpool’s 100th of the season in all competitions and Mac Allister’s a league-leading 66th in 28 league matches.
Salah felt he should have had an early penalty when he was brought down by Lewis Hall but referee Stuart Atwell ruled the Egypt international had fouled the left-back on his run towards the area.
The respite was short-lived as when Luis Diaz cut back a cross from the left Szoboszlai’s left-footed shot went through the legs of both Sandro Tonali and Dan Burn to give visiting goalkeeper Nick Pope little time to react.
Isak’s replacement Callum Wilson beat the high offside line but failed to hit the target with only Alisson Becker to beat.
If the visitors had any aspirations of ending a winless run at Anfield dating back to 1994 those were the type of chances they had to take.
By the time they got another they were already 2-0 down with their opponents in complete control.
Szoboszlai should have doubled his tally when Diogo Jota dispossessed Hall but curled a shot just wide of the far post.
When news filtered through of Arsenal’s goalless draw at Nottingham Forest less than 10 minutes into the second half the mood became celebratory, with the ground echoing to a loud rendition of ‘We’re going to win the league’.
The nervousness of Liverpool’s last home match against Wolves was non-existent, thanks mainly to the Gunners’ defeat at the weekend opening up an 11-point gap.
They had even more to cheer when Mac Allister clipped home Salah’s pass, reward for the Argentina international launching the counter-attack from just inside his own half by intercepting Tonali’s pass.
When Diaz failed to turn in Salah’s cross to the far post the Egyptian decided he was better off going it alone in his quest for a ninth successive game with a goal but such was the comfort of the situation he was indulged one or two moments of selfishness.
Watching Jose and pogba, will be more entertaining than the football .
@Liam Neeson: it’s all going to plan for Jose.
C’mon you irons#.
Ahahahahahahahahahaha pmsl
@Tuot tuot: why are you laughing at a british club? Another case of my british club is better than your british club
@Paul: nearly as bad as you commenting on a British club thread.
@John: or commenting on somebody commenting …eh John
@Paul: and there is you speaking the queens english and probably watch English TV and use things made in Britain too.
Give over you pleb
@Colin Ahern: I guess he also only supports irish home grown music and none of that foreign stuff too.
@Paul: Oh give over.it has always been this way and always will be.
Pogba is at a stage where he doesn’t really care. He is on crazy money and his reputation after winning the world cup is an all time high. Maybe not witj fans but for Barcelona, real Madrid and psg boards he’s still worth 100 million. He could feasibly play poorly for years and swap between top clubs and earn the same money.
@Murf T Will: I was with you right up until the playing poorly for years bit. No one’s reputation is bullet proof! Just look at the likes of Torres, Rooney etc.
@Murf T Will: Rooney played poorly for years with United. He definitely milked it. They only shipped him out because he couldn’t run anymore.
@Murf T Will: Yeah – with United. Then he moved to Everton didn’t he? It’s not like he’s been bouncing around the top clubs whilst playing poorly on the strength of his good reputation as you claim Pogba might.
@Murf T Will: It was his reputation and nationality that kept him at United.
@I’m not wavy gravy: Yea Torres bounced from Liverpool to Chelsea to Atletico. Not really a dip in standard.
@Hugh Jass: I see your point but Chelsea to Athletico was a huge drop in standard for Torres! Do you not remember how good he was at Liverpool? He’s lucky there was so much love for him at AM or he’d have been thrown into mid-table obscurity.
@Murf T Will: And as soon as it was time to move clubs where did he go? Everton then Galaxy. Your original claim was that Pogba can play poorly for years and still secure high profile moves to the likes of Barca and Real Madrid. That’s clearly not the case.
@Murf T Will: Yeah. Obviously with age you will move to lesser clubs with physical ability weakening. Up until 30 to 32 pogba will circulate the top clubs.
@Murf T Will: And if he transfers to a club like spurs within that time I’ll personally go into your bank and pay off your mortgage.
@Murf T Will: Haha alright, deal. I’ll meet you back here in ten years and we’ll see who’s right.
Hope Rice has good game!
@Magnum: Hes had a cracking game Magnum
But but but but
Not good enough. I thought Jose would have till January to turn it around but I’m not so sure now
I”m getting sick of this, nobody fears man Utd anymore and by the looks of it, with good reason. Bottom of table clubs will be looking to take a point as a minimum and hope to take 3. Tough season ahead, top 4 looking dodgy for sure.
Hammers well worth their 2-0 lead. So much negativity surrounding the club ,players and manager. Score line doesn’t surprise me.In saying that I think it’s Woodward that needs to take a step back and let someone else take the reigns. He is a very astute businessman but not a Chief Executive.
@Johnny Bravo: so it’s Woodwards fault United are 2 nil down to a team that have only own a single league game this season?
@Gareth Keenan: He has been more or less head of the decision making in the last few years , so if you like yea he should shoulder some of the blame for today’s game and more. Does that explain it for you
@Johnny Bravo: no it doesn’t actually. Manager and players are responsible for what happens on the pitch.
@Gareth Keenan’: who’s responsible for putting them there in the first place I ask you !
haha such a crap performance again today from.the once mighty now shitey man United.Total laughing stock of a club from the manager down to the very poor egotistical players they have.Mourinho to stay on hopefully .They deserve each other .
@Michael cunnane: Micheal comeback when you’ve actually won something. Good lad
@Michael cunnane: Nearly as bad as Spurs performance at home to Liverpool! Scoreline flattered Spurs, should have been 5!
@Michael cunnane: whereas Spuds have been shitey since the days of Ricky Villa and Ardiles
@Michael cunnane: sorry you probably don’t know who they are
@David Carino: Hahahahahahahaha 3-0 we outclassed ye at old crappord.Have that .Spurs light years ahead of United.Wakey wakey
@Michael cunnane: yes so far ahead I can’t see because of the shine coming out of your Trophy drawer .
So 2-0. Everything going to plan with Paul and Jose
Give Smalling and Shaw a pay rise! 4 million a year is nowhere near enough for this level of mediocre, overhyped talent. This is what I spend my hard earned barstooler euro on, so you better sort it Woodward!… Sure, it’s the best league in the world!