Liverpool consolidated their spot at the top of the Premier League with a 4-2 victory over Newcastle on Monday to kick off 2024.
Mohamed Salah’s double and efforts from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo in the second half were enough to hand the Reds the three points at Anfield.
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Liverpool dominated the game but were frustrated at half-time after Salah had his penalty saved by Martin Dubravka.
The Egyptian finally got into the score sheet shortly after half-time but the Magpies instantly hit back. Late goals from Gakpo, Salah and Jones sealed it for the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp was happy with how his side played and also gave praise to Newcastle keeper Dubravka.
Liverpool beat Newcastle 4-2 at Anfield
I didn’t have to look at the stats because I saw it [in the game], it was really special. It was [Martin] Dubravka but it was ourselves as well. There were moments where we forced it, when the technique was not great, but then there were moments when Dubravka had a top save as well,” said the Liverpool boss.
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“We scored twice [where] we squared the ball and put it in the empty goal. We didn’t stop, that’s the most important thing.”
Liverpool are now three points ahead of second place team Aston Villa.
Klopp praised the Anfield atmosphere, saying the crown was on ‘fire’.
“I said here a few weeks ago, I spoke about the atmosphere – tonight the atmosphere was absolutely exceptional and how we all took together these missed chances, that’s how an atmosphere is. It was not like, ‘Oh my God, what are they doing?’
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And I would understand that in moments, but everybody was just really on fire: we go again, we go again, we go again. And we did, we scored four goals, which is already an outstanding number. All good.”
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