Liverpool broke their winless streak with a convincing 4-1 win over Newcastle United.
Newcastle started strong in this game, and looked the more controlled outfit for much of the first half.
Anthony Gordon put the Magpies ahead in the 36th minute, but a two-minute brace from Hugo Ekitike tipped the scales back in the favour of the home side.
After the break, Liverpool put the foot down. Florian Wirtz rolled one into the corner and put the result beyond reach, before Ibrahima Konate put the cherry on top of a dominant Liverpool display.
Livepool scored four brilliant goals against Newcastle, but which was your favourite?
Liverpool player ratings vs Newcastle
Alisson Becker – 6
Not Alisson’s busiest night, but his save against Harvey Barnes on the hour mark was phenomenal.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6
You could play Szoboszlai in any position and he would have an impact. At right-back, he was reliable out of possession and a real threat bombing up to join the attack. Need him back in the midfield long term, though.
Who could be Liverpool’s short-term right-back transfer fix?
Ibrahima Konate – 8
Despite recent events, there was no rustiness about the Frenchman’s performance. He was dominant against the Newcastle attackers and got a well-deserved goal at the death.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
After making Champions League history for his playmaking exploits, Van Dijk had a more familiar defensive impact
Milos Kerkez – 5
Kerkez did brilliantly to assist Ekitike’s second, but there were some lapses in his defensive play.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7
A much more assured Gravenberch display. He was positive going forward and more than held his own against an imposing Newcastle midfield, gliding past players and moving the Reds forward.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6
Like Gravenberch, Mac Allister looked great. He battled from minute one, and helped the Reds assert their control in the middle of the pitch.
Florian Wirtz – 9
Wirtz and Ekitike are forming a special partnership, and they look set to be the main men at Anfield for years to come.
Another couple of goal involvements for the German. There’s a sense of inevitability building around Wirtz now — masterful in how he dictates play for Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah – 5
Liverpool fans weren’t impressed with Salah against Newcastle. He looked miles off it early on, kept quiet by a constant double-team on the right wing. He grew into the game, though, and got his assist to Wirtz for their third. Still far from his best.
Cody Gakpo – 5
Gakpo was quiet in this one. Got in some good positions, but couldn’t make it happen. Arne Slot might need to reconsider his status as a nailed-on starter.
Hugo Ekitike – 9
We’re running out of superlatives to describe Liverpool’s new star striker. Ekitike responded to Newcastle links in the perfect fashion, and you could tell from the off that he wanted to get amongst the goals.
We have a special player on our hands.
PROVE ME WRONG: Hugo Ekitike WILL have a better Liverpool career than Luis Suarez
Substitutions
Federico Chiesa – N/A
Curtis Jones – N/A
Wataru Endo – N/A
The game was put to bed by the time changes were made.
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