Liverpool 4 – 1 Newcastle
After weeks of uncertainty, scrutiny, and growing tension around Anfield, Liverpool produced a performance that finally married authority with conviction. Newcastle arrived believing they could further destabilise the reigning champions, but instead left having been physically, tactically, and emotionally overwhelmed by a side that played with edge, purpose, and collective resolve.
This was not flawless football, nor was it calm throughout, but it was decisive — and in the context of Liverpool’s season, that mattered more than aesthetics.
The Starting Eleven
Liverpool XI
• GK – Alisson Becker
• RB – Dominik Szoboszlai
• CB – Ibrahima Konaté
• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)
• LB – Milos Kerkez
• CM – Alexis Mac Allister
• CM – Ryan Gravenberch
• RW – Mohamed Salah
• AM – Florian Wirtz
• LW – Cody Gakpo
• CF – Hugo Ekitike
Substitutes Used
• Curtis Jones → Alexis Mac Allister (83’)
• Federico Chiesa → Mohamed Salah (83’)
• Wataru Endō → Ryan Gravenberch (86’)
Goals
Newcastle 0–1 Liverpool – Newcastle Goal (Anthony Gordon) – 7’
Liverpool 1–1 Newcastle – Hugo Ekitike – 24’
Liverpool 2–1 Newcastle – Hugo Ekitike – 41’
Liverpool 3–1 Newcastle – Florian Wirtz (Mohamed Salah) – 63’
Liverpool 4–1 Newcastle – Ibrahima Konaté – 90+4’
Match Statistics
• Possession: Liverpool 61% | Newcastle 39%
• xG: Liverpool 3.42 | Newcastle 0.88
• Total Shots: Liverpool 19 | Newcastle 10
• Shots on Target: Liverpool 8 | Newcastle 3
• Fouls: Liverpool 11 | Newcastle 14
• Corners: Liverpool 7 | Newcastle 4
Liverpool's top scorers in all competitions this season:
🥇 Hugo Ekitike – 15
🥈 Dominik Szoboszlai – 8
🥉 Cody Gakpo – 7Hugo Ekitike way ahead of the rest 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/3uaDNo0U8B
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 31, 2026
First Half
Newcastle began with aggression and directness, unsettling Liverpool early and capitalising on space down the flank before Anthony Gordon struck to take a narrow lead. For a brief moment, Anfield tightened. The familiar anxiety loomed.
What followed, however, was a response rooted in physical authority. Ibrahima Konaté immediately imposed himself, stepping into duels and dominating aerially. Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai drove the ball forward with intent, refusing to let the game settle into chaos.
Hugo Ekitike’s equaliser came through pure desire, reacting fastest inside the box from a superb Florian Wirtz drive and pass. His second, just before the interval, was a forward’s goal — pace, composure, and confidence rolled into one moment, as he carried the ball into the box and drove a punted effort into the far corner. Liverpool went into the break ahead and deservedly so.
Second Half
The second half belonged entirely to Liverpool. The tempo increased, the press became coordinated, and Newcastle began to fade physically. Florian Wirtz found space between the lines and punished it, finishing clinically after a clever Salah assist to put the contest beyond doubt.
Liverpool managed the game with maturity thereafter. Arne Slot’s substitutions were sensible and reactive, protecting control rather than chasing excess.
The night’s defining moment arrived in stoppage time. Konaté surged forward and powered home a central strike — a fitting reward for a towering performance marked by strength, leadership, and resilience.
Final Thoughts
This was a performance built on authority rather than fear. Newcastle were competitive early, but Liverpool’s physical superiority and attacking clarity ultimately overwhelmed them. Konaté’s return anchored everything, while Wirtz and Ekitike supplied the intelligence and incision that have too often been missing.
For Arne Slot, this was more than three points. It was breathing space. Liverpool still has flaws, but this was a reminder that leadership, belief, and fight remain intact.
Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction:
Liverpool 2 – 2 Newcastle
