Reds extend lead at the top while Magpies struggle without Isak

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Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 13 points after securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle at Anfield on Wednesday.

Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister gave Arne Slot’s side all three points as the Reds continued their march towards the title.

Newcastle were without star striker Alexander Isak and the Sweden international’s absence showed as Eddie Howe’s team created very few clear-cut chances in a game largely dominated by the hosts.

How the action unfolded

The rain was lashing down across the Anfield turf but the weather did little to dampen Liverpool spirits.

Right from the off, the hosts had an early penalty shout turned down before Szoboszlai found the net for the second successive game when his low shot deflected past Nick Pope on 11-minutes.

The Reds’ charge towards the title was showing no signs of slowing. Newcastle, who have their own lofty European ambitions, seemed content to sit off and let their opponents dominate the ball.

In a rare attack for the Magpies, Callum Wilson, in for Isak, chipped the ball wide when one-on-one with Alisson but the flag had been raised.

The England striker then miscued another effort when he perhaps should have done a lot better.

The miss would prove costly. With Slot overseeing from the stands as he served the first of a two-gamer touchline ban after being sent of against Everton, Liverpool began to move up through the gears. The prospect of extending an 11-point lead at the summit of England’s top flight a seemingly sufficient carrot.

And shortly after the hour mark, Liverpool doubled their lead when Mac Allister drove into the box and exchanged a neat one-two with Mohamed Salah before the Argentine rifled home from 12 yards out.

From there, Liverpool were rarely troubled. Salah went in search of a goal. The backline stroked the ball about with a swagger. Victory seemed like an inevitability.

Ibrahima Konate had a goal chalked off for a foul on Pope late on, while Cody Gakpo went close with a stunning acrobatic effort.

It proved to be the last action of the match. Courtesy of Arsenal’s stalemate at Nottingham Forest, with ten games to go Liverpool’s hand on the Premier League trophy grips ever tighter.




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