Mo Salah joined Harry Kane at the top of the Premier League scoring charts as Liverpool comfortably notched up their ninth win in 12 games to leapfrog Manchester United into second place.
Salah showed his customary calm to put Liverpool ahead after 40 minutes when he transferred the ball from his right foot to left before slotting home.
It was with his 24th league goal of the season, and 32nd of the campaign in all competitions. And Liverpool’s superiority was reflected by a second goal after half-time by Sadio Mane as Newcastle were left hovering just two points above the relegation zone as their own four-match unbeaten run ended.
Winnable home games against Southampton, Huddersfield and West Brom now look key after last night’s tactic of damage limitation last was ultimately no use to combat Salah in particular, who must now be a serious rival to Kevin de Bruyne as the Premier League’s best performer this season.
Liverpool moved up to second in the Premier League table on Saturday night with a 2-0 win over Newcastle at Anfield
After missing a few chances early on, Salah made no mistake after 40 minutes and gave his side the lead
He controlled a pass by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, shifted the ball back on to his left foot and slid it past Martin Dubravka
It was the 32nd goal of Salah’s remarkable debut season at Anfield and helped Liverpool on their way to another three points
Liverpool doubled their lead with a delightful finish from Mane as the winger delicately curled the ball into the net
Mane looked delighted as he celebrated his 14th goal of the campaign with his team-mates in front of the roaring Kop
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE
Liverpool (4-3-3): Karius 7; Alexander-Arnold 7, Lovren 6.5, van Dijk 7, Robertson 7.5; Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 (Milner 79 6), Henderson 6.5, Can 6.5; Salah 8, Firmino 6.5 (Matip 88), Mane 6.5 (Lallana 73 6)
Subs not used: Gomez, Moreno, Mignolet, Solanke.
Goals: Salah 40, Mane 54
Bookings: None
Newcastle (5-4-1): Dubravka 6; Yedlin 6, Lejeune 6.5, Lascelles 6, Dummett 6.5, Kenedy 5.5; Murphy 5.5 (Perez 84), Diame 6.5, Merino 5.5 (Hayden 73 6), Atsu 5.5; Gayle 6 (Joselu 66 6)
Subs not used: Clark, Ritchie, Manquillo, Darlow.
Goals: None
Bookings: None
Referee: Graham Scott 6.5
Attendance: 53,287
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drove through the heart of midfield before playing in Mohamed Salah, who calmly fired into the back of the net. For more from our Match Zone, click here.
Newcastle hadn’t won at Anfield since Steve Watson scored a League Cup winner in 1995 when they were managed by former Kop hero Kevin Keegan.
Rafa Benitez was yesterday’s returner to Merseyside where he’s fondly remembered for delivering the 2005 Champions League.
With every point precious in the fight to avoid relegation, it was no surprise to see the black-and-white stripes lined up in organised fashion to try and stop Liverpool’s Fab Three Roberto Firmino, Mane and Footballer of the Year contender Salah.
Liverpool’s early possession saw them driven into cul-de-sacs with a frustrated Firmino miskicking his finish wide after a patient build-up had got his side nowhere.
Salah optimistically shouted for a penalty when his fiercely-struck shot hit Paul Dummett’s hands. But referee Graham Scott could see clearly the Newcastle defender was holding them in front of his face for protection.
The Egyptian then tried an outrageous half-volley from the angle of the penalty area. In his current form, you wouldn’t have been surprised if it had burst the back of the net, but this time it crashed into the sidenet accompanied by plenty of oohs and aahs from the Liverpool support.
Liverpool were mostly contained by a solid Newcastle defensive display during the first-half before the goal arrived
Oxlade-Chamberlain drove through the heart of the Newcastle midfield before laying the ball on a plate for Salah
The Egyptian unsurprisingly buried the chance just five minutes before half-time to give The Reds a deserved lead
A sweeping move downfield from The Reds saw Roberto Firmino feed Mane who fired first time into the back of the net
Benitez’s tactic of leaving Dwight Gayle up front and have everyone else funneling behind the ball achieved its aim of quietining the crowd. There were a few groans when Andy Roberston had to pass back to goalkeeper Loris Karius to build an attack from the very back.
Defender Dejan Lovren had the best chance of the opening half-hour to break the deadlock but the Croatian headed into the ground when left unmarked at a corner. Toon goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was able to fist the ball back to Lovren, whose second attempt from six yards was smartly blocked by Mikel Moreno.
Salah then tried to wriggle his way into a shooting position after smart work by Emre Can and Firmino, but Florian Lejeune read his intentions and also blocked the shot.
It was Salah – of course – who did apply the vital finishing touch after 40 minutes. Credit must go to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who kept his composure whilst surrounded by three defenders and flicked a pass with the outside of his left boot to the Egyptian.
From there, it was almost inevitable that Salah would score, his 32nd goal of an extraordinary debut season at Anfield slipped between the legs of Dubravka.
Unexpectedly, Newcastle did have a chance to level late in the first half, Mo Diame calling Karius into a serious action for the first time and the German responding well with an acrobatic leap to his right to tip over the shot.
Newcastle offered very little in attack all game and Karius was quick to claim a corner in one of their few opportunities
Jurgen Klopp barked instructions at his team as he picked fault in their second-half display despite being comfortable
Mohamed Diame thought he had leveled things up just before half-time but a stunning save from Loris Karius denied him
Salah was on his bike again at the start of the second half and Dummett did exceptionally well to track back and stretch out a foot to concede a corner. The Liverpool star was then visibly angry when a second penalty appeal for handball was turned down. This time he had more evidence as his shot travelled a distance before striking Jamaal Lascelles.
Liverpool’s second goal arrived after 55 minutes as the previously-quiet Firmino and Mane stepped out of Salah’s shadow.
Firmino released his pal with a clever pass into the penalty area and Mane opened his body in assured fashion and planted his finish into the corner leaving Dubrakva no chance.
In the visitor’s dug-out, Benitez scribbled notes. He must have envied Jurgen Klopp having enjoyed the trappings of being a Liverpool manager himself until 2010.
His Newcastle side looked as if they were playing for goal difference as there seemed no visible evidence they could fight their way back from 2-0 down. Playing five at the back with another two holding midfielers had worked for a while but not long enough.
Karius was applauded by team-mate Dejan Lovren after making an acrobatic, one-handed save in front of The Kop
Andy Robertson continued his fine form in the Liverpool defence as he produced another energetic performance
Rafa Benitez was once again given a warm reception on his return to the club which he led to Champions League glory
The January loan signing of Islam Slimani, who still isn’t fit enough to play for Newcastle, looks more mysterious than ever.
Their most physical available centre-forward Joselu was brought off the bench after 66 minutes with Gayle making away.
The Spaniard’s arrival saw Newcastle try and go the aerial route into the Liverpool penalty area. Unfortunately for them, Klopp’s £75million January signing Virgil van Dijk must be among the best headers of the ball in Europe.
Both sides made changes for the final 17 minutes – Liverpool sending on Adam Lallana, with Mane getting a big ovation as he exited, and Benitez introducing Isaac Hayden.
Salah was man-of-the-match and a goalscorer but he ended up frustrated when in injury-time, he couldn’t believe he didn’t get a penalty after getting goalside of Jamaal Lascelles who shoved him over on the line.