Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool eventually broke down resilient Newcastle United to open up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
In a relentless and frantic game, fuelled by wicked rain and wind on Merseyside, Liverpool took swing after swing at Newcastle in the first half but were in danger of being held to a third consecutive Anfield draw.
But Salah, who will now depart to join Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and who had a first-half penalty saved, tapped home a cross for his side’s first then converted a second spot-kick in the closing stages.
His first strike was his 150th Premier League goal for the Reds, but it was cancelled out five minutes by Alexander Isak, who got in behind the hosts’ defence and curled home.
Liverpool pressed to go in front again and eventually Curtis Jones gave them the lead again before a scuffed Cody Gapko effort from a brilliant Salah pass gave them breathing space.
But back came Newcastle when Sven Botman headed home a corner to make it 3-2 before Salah sent Martin Dubravka – who was heroic throughout – the wrong way to secure the points.
Liverpool had won their opening seven Premier League games at Anfield this season but had been been held to draws by Manchester United and Arsenal in their previous two home games.
They now lead Aston Villa by three points and have a five-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and Arsenal.
Newcastle, who were missing nine first-team players, remain ninth.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-ArnoldBooked at 45mins
- 5Konaté
- 4van Dijk
- 2Gomez
- 8SzoboszlaiSubstituted forGravenberchat 64′minutes
- 3EndoBooked at 65minsSubstituted forMac Allisterat 75′minutes
- 17Jones
- 11Salah
- 9NúñezSubstituted forGakpoat 64′minutes
- 7DíazBooked at 45minsSubstituted forJotaat 64′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Mac Allister
- 18Gakpo
- 19Elliott
- 20Jota
- 38Gravenberch
- 53McConnell
- 62Kelleher
- 78Quansah
- 84Bradley
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 1DúbravkaBooked at 84mins
- 21Livramento
- 5Schär
- 4Botman
- 33BurnSubstituted forHallat 82′minutes
- 67MileyBooked at 45minsSubstituted forAlmirónat 54′minutes
- 39Bruno GuimarãesBooked at 28mins
- 36S LongstaffBooked at 89mins
- 10Gordon
- 14Isak
- 7JoelintonBooked at 66minsSubstituted forLascellesat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Dummett
- 6Lascelles
- 11Ritchie
- 17Krafth
- 18Karius
- 20Hall
- 24Almirón
- 29Gillespie
- 54Murphy
Live Text
Match ends, Liverpool 4, Newcastle United 2.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 4, Newcastle United 2.
Foul by Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool).
Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jamaal Lascelles.
Attempt blocked. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Gravenberch.
Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Fabian Schär (Newcastle United).
Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Diogo Jota (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United).
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Curtis Jones.
Goal! Liverpool 4, Newcastle United 2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Martin Dúbravka (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Penalty Liverpool. Diogo Jota draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Martin Dúbravka (Newcastle United) after a foul in the penalty area.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Lewis Hall replaces Dan Burn.
