There are days when you have to admire the ominous power in the opposition ranks and take your punishment. This was one of them for Steve Bruce. His Newcastle team were belligerent, committed and disciplined at Anfield, they even took the lead, and they were still cut apart by the brilliant precision of Liverpool’s supreme attack. All Bruce could do was smile as the Kop celebrated with their old song about his big fat head.
Sadio Mané struck twice and
Mohamed Salah once as
Liverpool recorded a 14th consecutive
Premier League win and extended their unbeaten run to 22 league games, their longest sequence under the management of Jürgen Klopp. Both strikers were indebted to sublime assists from Roberto Firmino, who started the day on the bench as the Liverpool manager utilised his resources to telling effect. Jetro Willems’s thumping early strike for Newcastle and the hosts’ initial difficulties were long forgotten by the time Salah sealed victory for the Premier League leaders late in the second half.