Liverpool back in top four race as they beat Newcastle

Gakpo scored for the second game running to give Liverpool a 2-0 win over Newcastle

PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool back in top four race as they beat Newcastle

Joba Ogunwale 20:33 - 18.02.2023

Jurgen Klopp’s men moved within six points of Newcastle following a comfortable win over the Magpies at St James Park.

Liverpool dragged themselves back into the top four race after a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle in their Premier League clash at St James Park on Saturday evening. 

Having beaten Everton in the Merseyside derby last Monday, Liverpool knew they had to win against one of their top-four rivals to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season. 

How it happened

Newcastle had not lost in the Premier League since last year, but Eddie Howe’s men got off to the worst possible start as Liverpool took the lead inside ten minutes through Darwin Nunez. 

The Uruguayan striker, who has had a rollercoaster season since his big-money move from Benfica, put Liverpool ahead with a superb finish. 

Nunez did well to control a fantastic long ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold before firing emphatically past Nick Pope in Newcastle’s goal. 

Newcastle were always going to be up against it in the match, as they had not beaten Liverpool in the league since 2015. 

The chance of that happening became difficult after Cody Gapko doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 17th minute. 

The Netherlands international, who broke his Liverpool duck in the Merseyside derby, extended his side’s lead with a close-range finish. 

https://twitter.com/SSFootball/status/1627010706477314049

Things went from bad to worse for the home side after Nick Pope was given a straight red card for handling the ball outside the box after Mohamed Salah was put through on goal by Alisson Becker. 

Liverpool see out a comfortable victory 

The match was over as a contest following Pope’s dismissal. Nonetheless, Newcastle showed fighting spirit in the second half as they took the game to Liverpool. 

The Magpies, despite their one-man disadvantage, created a couple of chances to get back in the game but were wasteful in front of goal. 

Their best chance fell into the path of Callum Wilson who was set up by Allan Saint-Maxmin but could only hit his shot straight at Alisson’s legs. 

Liverpool also had chances to extend their lead, but Salah and Diogo Jota were guilty of missing clear cut chances. 

It did not matter, though, as their first half goals were enough to see out a comfortable victory. The result puts Jurgen Klopp’s men six points behind Newcastle in fourth place, but Liverpool have a game in hand. 

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