It took Liverpool FC half an hour and a goal against to wake up against Newcastle United. Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké each scored twice to secure a 4-1 victory over the Magpies.
Liverpool FC and Newcastle United had experienced different games during the week: while the Reds celebrated an easy 6-0 win against Qarabag Agdam, the Magpies held defending champions Paris St. Germain to a 1-1 draw away from home. Surprisingly, however, it was the visitors who made the fresher impression in the direct duel.
NUFC took control of the game from the start, winning the decisive tackles and at times barely letting Liverpool out of their own half. After 28 minutes, Newcastle had already earned seven corners and a free kick, which Barnes hit the post, while Pope had yet to make a save in his own goal.
Gordon gives Newcastle a deserved lead – and gets lucky
Although Liverpool improved after half an hour, it was Eddie Howe’s team that got the deserved reward. Gordon, who had replaced Woltemade on the bench, finished off an attack down the left to make it 1-0 after 36 minutes.
The interesting thing was that the goalscorer was lucky to still be on the pitch. After Gordon pushed Mac Allister, referee Simon Hooper issued a warning (10th minute), so that the Englishman got off lightly with his first yellow card a minute later for a nasty tackle on Alisson.
However, the Reds did not let this annoy them on the pitch, instead responding with a sporting response – and a prompt one at that.
Liverpool turn the game around with a double strike from Ekitiké
LFC unleashed their offensive power, which had been hinted at earlier, after falling behind after five minutes: Wirtz successfully dribbled past three opponents in the penalty area before leaving the fourth standing with a pass against the direction of play – Ekitiké finished in the middle to equalize (41′).
It took just two more minutes for the Reds to turn the game around: A Newcastle attack—the Magpies wanted to strike back immediately—was followed by a counterattack initiated by Kerkez with a through ball, which Ekitiké used to score twice (43′).
Wirtz decides the game
In the second half, neither team was able to gain a decisive advantage for a long time. The Reds’ attempts on goal were sometimes too inaccurate at the decisive moment, while Newcastle found their match in Alisson on the rare occasions they did get a shot off.
Wirtz then provided the decisive factor in the home victory, scoring with a precise low shot to make it 3-1 (67′) after a one-two with Salah.
First league win of the new year
Newcastle rallied once more in the closing stages, with Woltemade coming on as a substitute in the 73rd minute, but they were unable to prevent the Reds from securing the home win. In the third minute of stoppage time, Konaté even made it 4-1 after a Pope mistake following a corner. Instead of overtaking Liverpool thanks to their superior goal difference, the Magpies allowed their opponents to pull six points clear at Anfield Road.
After their first win of the new year, the Reds can now further reduce the gap to the top four in their home game against Manchester City on Sunday (5:30 p.m.). Newcastle will face the Skyblues in the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday, before hosting Brentford FC (6:30 p.m.) at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
