MOHAMED SALAH SCORED his 24th Premier League goal of the season as Liverpool moved up to second place with a 2-0 home win against former manager Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle United.
Salah struck the opener, finding the net for his seventh appearance in a row for the Reds, maintaining a stunning run of goalscoring since arriving at Anfield from Roma.
Newcastle deployed a packed defence but Salah found a way through before half-time, finishing off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass to put Liverpool on track for a solid win ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League visit of Porto.
And when Liverpool cut Newcastle open again, Sadio Mane finishing off a fine team move to score the 200th league goal of Jurgen Klopp’s reign, the game was effectively over as a contest.
Benitez’s men rarely looked like scoring, with Newcastle left 16th in the table and just two points above the relegation zone, with captain Jamaal Lascelles seemingly fortunate not to see red in stoppage time for a push on the clean-through Salah.
Liverpool climb above Manchester United into second and Klopp’s men have built a seven-point cushion from fifth-placed Chelsea in the race to secure Champions League qualification, with Antonio Conte’s side in action at the Premier League’s runaway leaders Manchester City on Sunday.
Mane’s heavy touch denied the winger a sight of goal in the early minutes, while Salah sent a volley into the side-netting, but both attackers would find the target later.
Florian Lejeune’s ambitious long-range free-kick posed no problems for Loris Karius, Martin Dubravka showing sharp reflexes to keep out a Dejan Lovren header at the other end.
Newcastle’s determined defending was denying Liverpool space, but Salah dallied when he could have fired at goal, Lejeune recovering to make a block.
Salah did not waste his next opportunity, though, breaking the deadlock in the 40th minute to score his 32nd goal of the season in all competitions.
A ricochet in midfield fell to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who fed Salah for the Egypt international to take a sharp touch out of his feet and hit a crisp finish through the legs of Dubravka.
Karius made a brilliant save high to his right to palm over a looping Mohamed Diame strike after Mikel Merino’s backheel teed up a first-time drive.
Salah wanted a penalty for handball early in the second half when Lascelles blocked his shot in the box, but referee Graham Scott waved his appeals away.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 55th minute, though, with Mane on target for the third game in a row in all competitions.
Beautiful passing combinations and superb movement led to Roberto Firmino setting up Mane, with the Senegal forward – involved earlier in the sweeping attack – beating Dubravka with a super curling strike.
The intensity dropped from Klopp’s men thereafter, their energy levels protected ahead of Tuesday, but there was never any sign of a Magpies fightback and Lascelles somehow avoided punishment when he brought down Salah on the edge of the box with the last action of the game.
Newcastle have not won at Anfield since 1994 and they were largely toothless here, Benitez’s side slipping closer to the relegation zone after a tame defeat, but Liverpool continue to thrive following the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona.
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Cos we got Salah… Oh mane mane!!
@Ciarán: For now you have Salah.
The only debate is which big club he will go to in the summer, like every other player that shows some ability at Liverpool.
It’s ok though, iv made a song for his replacement:
We’ve got Boufal, MAYBE Mane, no one wants Firmino.
@Eoin Finnega: jaysus that’s a shite song.
@Eoin Finnega: I dont care if he goes or not Im enjoying the moment, Try it!! My support is not built around idolising footballers.
Two games in a row now Karius has made great saves to keep LFC ahead. Those of us who had seen something in him to recommend are feeling pretty good about now… Let’s hope he keeps it up, because he’s slowly winning the remaining doubters over.
@James Doyle: I imagine Klopp has told him to put in the performances til the end of the season to make him not have to sign another keeper. Literally playing for his anfield career
@Declan Snow: He told him he was number one and he wanted him to prove he made the right choice.
@Declan Snow: think myself playing behind VvD has made all the difference. From his debut, Van Dijk has been encouraging Karius to make the area his own. For a young goalie, that must make a huge difference, having a centre half who talks to you and trusts you to take care of things behind him. He’s always had talent, but he just looks more at home now.
@James Doyle: Ye he certainly looks more confident. When we signed him he was apparently the 2nd best keeper in Germany. Having a big talker infront of him has to help. He just needs to come off his line a bit quicker and be more decisive around that and he’ll be there or there abouts a top keeper.
@James Doyle: high opinion of yourself there James if you think it‘s you playing behind VvD that‘s the difference. I‘ve never even noticed you on the pitch.
@PJ Connolly: hur hur. But as the sort of guy who delights in pointing out similar errors in others, I have to give you kudos. Smart assery is always welcome.
Exciting times at Liverpool would love see klopp and Liverpool win the league next season. Still Have great chance in champions league
Salah for top goalscorer
@Jordo: Kane will nick it luckily
It’s such a strange feeling as a Liverpool fan to see our keeper make a save like that (Karius has quietly been excellent for weeks now). We’ve been so used to having a poor standard of keeper for a long time now. Van Dijk is an incredible addition to the squad and I won’t hear otherwise, and with Karius stepping up, Liverpool have really really steadied the ship at the back. A few more midfield additions and we are so, so close.
@Laura Walsh: what about the ox, he’s coming into his own in a big way too the last few games. He has a fair few assists now too!
@Hardly Normal: absolutely love Ox. Just one of those lads that you really want to do well cause he seems so sound. So happy he’s playing well! Say he’s delighted he left the sinking ship.
Good win.great save by Karius in 1st half.onwards and upwards.Salah is a legend.Goes to show how well liverpool are playing when theres a slight sense of dissapointment when they only win by 2.
Salah top scorer shhhhh. This team is on route to becoming one of Liverpools greatest. Y.N.W.A.
@England’s Envy: huge similarities between your posts and the Anto Whelan pretend Dub troll.
Class again top 4 in the bag now finish 2nd and get a run in Europe