Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores the workforce’s fourth objective in opposition to Newcastle United from the penalty spot within the Premier League recreation on January 1, 2024
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Mohamed Salah’s second-half brace made up for a missed penalty as Liverpool kicked off the brand new 12 months three factors clear atop the Premier League standings with a 4-2 victory over Newcastle United at a rain-drenched Anfield on Monday.
Juergen Klopp’s workforce, who started the day stage with Aston Villa on factors, now have 45 from 20 video games. Villa have 42 factors whereas Manchester City, who’ve performed one fewer recreation, are third on 40. Newcastle are ninth on 29.
The 31-year-old Salah, who has 150 Premier League targets for Liverpool, modified his boots at halftime and it labored like a attraction. His two targets moved him even with City’s Erling Haaland as joint prime scorers with 14 targets. He is the joint prime on assists, stage with Villa’s Ollie Watkins on eight.
Liverpool dominated the sport, and Salah, who had fired a first-half penalty straight at goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, lastly broke the impasse within the forty ninth minute when Darwin Nunez reduce the ball throughout to the Egyptian for an in depth vary end.
Alexander Isak scored in opposition to the run of play with Newcastle’s second shot of the sport within the 54th minute when he ran onto a by way of ball from Anthony Gordon and knocked it previous keeper Alisson into the far nook.
However, Curtis Jones put the house aspect again in entrance within the 74th minute with a tap-in after a cross throughout objective from Diogo Jota, and Cody Gakpo scored 4 minutes later.
Sven Botman pulled one again for Newcastle within the 81st earlier than Salah, who was enjoying his final recreation earlier than departing for the African Cup of Nations, struck from the penalty spot after Jota had been fouled to seal the win within the 86th.
Liverpool have been on the entrance foot in opposition to Newcastle nearly from kickoff, and an outstanding show by keeper Dubravka saved the guests within the recreation.
Liverpool had 18 photographs within the first half to Newcastle’s one, their most within the first half of a Premier League recreation since April 2016 in opposition to Everton.
Liverpool’s early possibilities have been met by groans from the Anfield crowd, together with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s strike following Salah’s missed penalty that he launched nicely over the crossbar.
Alexander-Arnold additionally had a protracted shot at a good angle hit the far submit.
But they lastly discovered the web after the break and the floodgates opened.
“It’s a great result for us. The game was very intense and we managed to pick up three points and now we are top of the table. We need to stay calm and win every game,” Salah informed Sky Sports.
“The players spoke in the dressing room (at halftime). ‘We have to stay calm’. I missed the pen. I didn’t want to leave for the national team with that performance.”
Source: www.thehindu.com
