Liverpool condemn Newcastle to another defeat as Mo Salah exits on top
Liverpool opened up a gap at the top of the Premier League after Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo made good on their dominant display over Newcastle.
The Reds threatened to surrender more points when Alexander Isak scored in font of the Kop to rule out Mohamed Salah's opener. The Egyptian missed a penalty, not for the first-time this season, as the first-half ended goalless before Jurgen Klopp's subs paid off.
Jones and Gakpo were both thrown on as part of a triple substitution and the former tapped home to put them ahead once again with 16 minutes remaining. The Dutchman thought he'd made the game safe as he tapped home from a Salah cross for Liverpool's third, only for Sven Botman to give Newcastle hope in the final stages.
It didn't last long though as Salah was handed another chance to convert from the spot, which he took emphatically to make the game safe and leave the Reds with a brace to remember him as he prepares to jet off for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Both teams had goals ruled out in the first-half by VAR, who also backed referee Anthony Taylor on two penalty calls that will be debated.
Here's five talking points from Anfield.
Last term Newcastle thought they were destined to leave Anfield with something with the game balanced heading into stoppage time, only for Fabio Carvalho to break Toon hearts with a goal deep into stoppage time.
Howe must've been feeling similarly as he got to the 70 minute mark with the game tied at 1-1. His Newcastle side had to withstand even more pressure than they did last season but looked as if they might head back to the north east with a morale boosting point.
Jones, Gakpo and Salah though had other ideas as Newcastle were once again, left to rue another visit to Anfield that saw them
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