Liverpool FC continue to march towards the Premier League championship. Even the in-form Newcastle United were no match for the Reds.
Top teams play strong and successful football. Hardly any other European team underlines this more this season than Liverpool FC, who lived up to their position as favorites on this 27th Premier League matchday in their clash with Newcastle United.
Sure: The LFC men saved the big football shine in the rain at Anfield Road this time, but that shouldn’t have mattered to Arne Slot. Rather, as in the sovereign 2-0 win at champions Manchester City, the Reds’ coach was able to note a concentrated performance by his charges.
The stable Liverpool defense around captain van Dijk or the secure wing defenders Alexander-Arnold Tsimikas kept almost everything away from their own box. Only once did something go wrong – on the 30-minute mark: after an intercepted throw-in and a quick through ball, offensive man Wilson was through, Konaté couldn’t keep up. But the attacker, who was free in front of the on-rushing Alisson, missed completely – and was annoyed. It would have been the 1-1 for his team, who had recently recorded a turbulent 4-3 win over Nottingham.
Szoboszlai makes the difference
But the Magpies went into the second half trailing 1-0. The only goal of the game so far was scored by the home team in the 11th minute, with a little help from the visitors. At the end of a Liverpool attack, Luis Diaz was able to easily lay the ball into the back area for Szoboszlai – and the completely alone former Leipzig player shot the ball flatly with his left foot. After taking a double leg shot, keeper Pope, who couldn’t get a grip on the ball, didn’t look too good either. Szoboszlai almost scored the 2-0, but narrowly missed the target (36′).
The second half followed much the same pattern (from a neutral’s perspective). Coach Slot’s team, who was recently suspended by the league and therefore had to take a seat in the stands, played confidently and managed to hold on to their narrow lead. The visitors couldn’t come up with anything. Or to put it another way: Newcastle couldn’t, Liverpool didn’t want to and didn’t have to.
Mac Allister seals the win – Arsenal help
It was still enough for the 2-0 win: Mac Allister set up the goal himself in the 63rd minute, taking Salah with him. The Egyptian dribbled in a confined space, feigned a shot and passed well to Mac Allister. The latter completed directly to the left into the corner – no chance for Pope. And that was the preliminary decision on this rainy evening at Anfield. The only downer from a personal point of view: Reds star Salah really turned up again in the final phase, but couldn’t find a way to make it 3-0 – the Egyptian ultimately went home without a goal in a 2-0 win.
With this commanding victory, the Reds also temporarily extended their lead at the top of the table to a proud 13 points, because “chasers” Arsenal failed to get the three points they were aiming for in the game at Nottingham Forest, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Liverpool are not in action again until next Wednesday – in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 in Paris (9 p.m.). Newcastle, meanwhile, face Brighton in the FA Cup (Sunday at 2:45 p.m.).
