Lovren wonder-strike and soft Salah penalty help Klopp’s men open up SIX point lead over Man City
Jurgen Klopp's team move six points ahead of Man City after Pep Guardiola's men dropped points at Leicester
Jurgen Klopp's team move six points ahead of Man City after Pep Guardiola's men dropped points at Leicester
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LIVERPOOL opened up a six point lead at the top of the table with a comfortable win over sorry Newcastle.
Goals from Dejan Lovren, Mo Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho piled the pressure on Manchester City, as in truth, Jurgen Klopp's side never really got out of third gear.
Klopp's side have also equalled City's goal difference and have shown no signs that their title challenge is about to fizzle out.
Ironically, Newcastle had a golden chance to take the lead in the eighth minute but Joselu missed a sitter, as his header from Matt Ritchie's cross went hopelessly wide.
At the other end, Shaqiri squandered another opportunity to break the deadlock when he scuffed wide from Sadio Mane's pass.
But there was nothing wrong with Lovren's opener for Liverpool in the 11th minute when he slammed home a half-volley from 15 yards.
Shaqiri's cross was only half-cleared by Jamaal Lascelles, who headed the ball back into the danger area and Lovren hammered past Martin Dubravka.
Liverpool continue to press forward but for all their possession they did not trouble Dubravka, as Mane and Shaqiri missed chances while Mo Diame made a good interception to deny Virgil van Dijk.
Although Dubravka did need to be alert to tip over Shaqiri's free-kick just before the break.
Rafa Benitez's would have reminded his Newcastle team about their defensive duties during his half-time team.
But that went out of the window in the 47th minute as Paul Dummett tugged Salah in the penalty box and the forward went down like a tonne of bricks.
There was contact from the Newcastle defender, yet Salah's theatrics no doubt helped convince referee Graham Scott to award the penalty.
Salah took the resulting spot-kick and slammed past Dubravka to put Liverpool in control.
Shaqiri added a third when he slotted home after some excellence play from Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
And substitute Fabinho added a fourth to sink Newcastle with a simple header at the near post from Salah's corner from the right.