Liverpool soared to a commanding 4-2 victory over Newcastle United, propelling themselves three points ahead at the summit of the Premier League, thanks to a stellar performance by Mohamed Salah.
Salah's brilliance shone through with two remarkable goals, contributing significantly to Liverpool's triumph at Anfield alongside Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo, who also found the net. The victory not only secured three crucial points but also marked a record-breaking start to 2024 for the Liverpool squad.
Despite an initial setback when Salah's first-half penalty was thwarted by Magpies' goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, Liverpool's relentless efforts persisted. Alexander Isak and Sven Botman's goals for Newcastle United in the second half added spice to the contest, keeping the outcome uncertain until the final whistle.
In a thrilling match, Mohamed Salah showcased his resilience by notching his 150th Premier League goal for Liverpool, sealing the milestone with a straightforward tap into an empty net during the 49th minute, making amends for his earlier missed penalty.
The battle between Dubravka and Nunez persisted, with the goalkeeper denying the Uruguayan forward twice. However, just six minutes after Liverpool took the lead, Alexander Isak surprised Anfield by equalizing with a skillful run and a precise finish into the far corner.
Liverpool regained their advantage in the 74th minute as Curtis Jones completed a fantastic team play initiated by Salah, who passed to Diogo Jota. Jota then squared the ball across the six-yard box for Jones to convert.
Shortly after, Cody Gakpo extended Liverpool's lead, tapping in a superb cross from Salah in the 78th minute. Newcastle, however, refused to concede defeat and managed to narrow the margin when Sven Botman headed in from Sean Longstaff's corner.
The goal-fest continued as Liverpool earned another penalty when Jota was fouled by Dubravka. Despite missing his initial attempt, Salah capitalized on his second chance, scoring his 14th Premier League goal of the season in his final game before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations, matching Erling Haaland's tally.
Liverpool's triumph propelled them to 45 points after 20 matches, securing a three-point lead over second-placed Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Newcastle, enduring five losses in their last six Premier League fixtures, currently sit ninth with 29 points, trailing Arsenal in fourth by 11 points.
(With Agency Inputs)
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