Liverpool registered their 300th Premier League victory at Anfield on Saturday as Rafa Benitez fell to his first loss as a manager against Liverpool. The visitors planted bodies behind the ball but Oxlade Chamberlain found space to set Mohamed Salah through, who scored his 32nd goal of the season, taking the Reds into the halftime with a slender lead.
But the visitors never looked like troubling Liverpool, who turned it up a notch till Sadio Mane found the back of the net to make it 2-0. Klopp’s men were happy to see out the rest of the game and also came close on a couple of occasions. They now go 2nd in the points table, till Manchester United play at Selhurst Park on Monday. Here are the player ratings for the hosts in this tie:
Liverpool Players Rated And Slated
Loris Karius (7):
A superb save at 1-0 from Diame and a number of catches saw Karius keep a well deserved clean sheet.
Trent Alexandre-Arnold (8):
One of the best players on the field as he was willing to add numbers to attack and never gave any Newcastle attack, any space down his wing.
Dejan Lovren (6):
Caught on a foot race on a couple of occasions but was usually solid, winning most of what was thrown at him.
Virgil van Dijk (8):
Liverpool are finally finding ways to shut down games and a lot of it has to do with the Dutch defender, who did not lose a single duel all night. A real beast at the back for the Reds.
Andrew Robertson (6):
Was caught out by Yedlin on occasions but was usually quick to recover and keep the pressure on the visitors.
Jordan Henderson (7):
One of the best games this season for the Liverpool skipper, who not only added mettle to the midfield but also set Liverpool away on attacks frequently.
Emre Can (6):
Lost the ball on a few instances but did enough to keep the Magpies away from goal.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (8):
Great industry in the middle of the park as he as quick to win the ball back and also set up Salah for his goal on yet another productive night for the former Arsenal man.
Mohamed Salah (8):
Found himself in possession a lot more than Newcastle would have wanted and hurt them almost every time. Should have won a pen late in the game but did well to score on the best chance he got all night.
Roberto Firmino (7):
A sublime ball to set up Mane’s goal and a number of super passes to break the Newcastle defence on just another day at the office for the Brazilian.
Sadio Mane (7):
Was not his usual self on the wing as he failed to beat the Newcastle defence but was confident in possession and troubled the visitors all night, before scoring a superb goal to gift his side all three points.
Substitutes:
Adam Lallana (6):
Added some guile to the midfield which allowed Liverpool to run the clock down late in the game.
James Milner (N/A)
Joel Matip (N/A)
