Liverpool consolidated their place in the Premier League top four as they coasted to a comfortable victory after breaking Newcastle’s brief resistance.
With five minutes left of a wasteful first half for the home side, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drove through Newcastle’s lines and played in Mohamed Salah for the forward’s 24th goal of the league season.
With no real outlet in attack, the Magpies were under constant pressure and buckled again when Sadio Mane swept the home side further ahead from Roberto Firmino’s pass – the 200th top-flight goal under manager Jurgen Klopp.
The win moves the Reds above Manchester United into second place – at least until their rivals play at Crystal Palace on Monday.
The gap to leaders Manchester City is 15 points, with Pep Guardiola’s side in action at home to Chelsea on Sunday.
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Newcastle, whose best chance saw Loris Karius deny Mohamed Diame with a fine save just before half-time, drop to 16th after Swansea’s 4-1 home win over West Ham.
Rafael Benitez’s side are two points above the relegation zone with nine matches to play.
Salah just keeps scoring
This was Egypt forward Salah’s 32nd goal in 38 games in all competitions for Liverpool this season, and the 26th consecutive match in which he’s scored.
By comparison, the entire Newcastle squad has managed 31 goals in total this term.
His finish – left-footed, of course, and through the legs of on-loan keeper Martin Dubravka – had a slight element of fortune in that it ricocheted in off Dubravka’s calf, but there was no doubt it came with the run of play.
Newcastle had been camped in banks of five but after Oxlade-Chamberlain, again impressive, pounced on a turnover in possession and opened up space with a determined run and Salah drifted into the perfect spot to put his side ahead. From there they never looked back.
In the context of Champions League qualification, Liverpool are now seven points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, who have a game in hand, but first comes Tuesday’s last-16 second-leg with FC Porto in this year’s competition. They lead 5-0 lead from the first leg.
