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Liverpool drop valuable points in end-to-end classic against Newcastle

kieran crichard
·34-min read
Fabian Schar benefits from Caoimhin Kelleher's decision to let the ball go to equalise in the last minute
Fabian Schar benefits from Caoimhin Kelleher‘s decision to let the ball go to equalise in the last minute - Lee Smith/Reuters

This was such a classic that even the great Mohamed Salah, in what might be the finest farewell lap in any Premier League career, could not quite bend the evening to his iron will – although it would be fair to say he made a very good attempt.

A glorious English match in the wintry North East rain, that for all its drama and subplot seemed at last to have been seized by Salah in the way this brilliant Egyptian can. He emerged from a mediocre first hour by his standards to plunder two goals and an assist for Curtis Jones’s first of Liverpool’s three.

This felt like another night of Salah triumph for a few pulsating moments and then the game swung again, borne along with the same volatile force that had gripped it from the start.

It is 28 years since the great seven-goal Anfield shoot-out between these clubs, when English football was a much less strategic pursuit – a code that had not yet been broken by the weight of all the analysis and scrutiny. Yet the greatest compliment you could pay these teams was that they played in that spirit – Newcastle with all their ambition refusing to go quietly.

Fabian Schar scored the last of the night’s six goals in the 90th minute, when Caoimhin Kelleher failed to claim a free-kick dropped into his box and the defender just edged it in at the back post.

This was a game overloaded with events – disputed penalty calls, posts struck, off-the-ball incidents unpunished. Anthony Gordon, the Liverpudlian on Newcastle’s left wing, twisted the blood of Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and anyone else who came into his orbit. Gordon scored the second of his side’s goals and played like he belonged at this level. Yet neither he nor Salah scored the game’s best goal.

That honour goes to Alexander Isak, who struck the game’s opener with such ferocity that Arne Slot would later wonder if Kelleher had even seen the ball as it flew past. Eddie Howe said this has been the best performance of Isak’s season, and the striker showed that he too belongs in exalted company. The question for both Isak and Gordon is whether they can deliver these kinds of performances with the relentlessness that Salah does.

Slot said that what impressed him most was how Salah had suddenly raised his level in the second half as the occasion demanded it. Newcastle had dominated much of the first half and failed to add another to the Isak strike. There had been chances to do so and one Gomez mistake in particular had set Gordon through on goal. Both Liverpool’s defensive midfielders, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister were on a booking by half-time, and Quansah had also been obliged to take one to in order to stop Gordon.

“What makes him [Salah] even more special is that in the first 50 minutes you thought that he’s not playing his best game today,” Slot said. “And then comes up with 45 minutes of assists, two goals, hitting the bar, being a constant threat. That’s something not many players can do if they played the first 50 minutes like he did.”

Slot also made the point that Salah is in a team who play to his strengths and anticipate his movement. No team-mate gave Salah more than Trent Alexander-Arnold, a second-half substitute for Gomez. Slot had sent on the England full-back along with Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz after the second Newcastle goal, and it worked very well.

Liverpool had struggled in the first half with the directness of Newcastle’s passing through their midfield. For the Isak goal, Bruno Guimaraes had come on the blindside of Mac Allister with the Argentine, already booked, unwilling to risk a challenge. The straight ball to Isak was taken brilliantly by this talented striker, who turned Virgil van Dijk one way and then the other before the hit.

In the aftermath of Gordon’s chance, Van Dijk leant into his opponent as the two of them converged and the Dutch defender floored the winger with a tactical shoulder. One senses from Van Dijk’s lack of surprise – or indeed concern – that it was intentional. Jacob Murphy hit the post. Newcastle were close to that decisive second first-half goal.

It was a glorious second half. There were two more Liverpool chances in addition to Salah’s cross for Jones to meet sweetly in the inside-right channel for the equaliser. Then, a brilliant Newcastle second goal. From Bruno to Isak and then into the left channel for Gordon, who went around Gomez and beat Kelleher with a right foot shot. Liverpool equalised again when Alexander-Arnold won possession and then dashed forward to deliver the cross for Salah.

From there it was a fight to the end. Isak might have had a penalty for a foul by Quansah. Darwin Nunez dragged a chance wide from close. Salah hit the bar. Then with seven minutes left Liverpool worked the ball in a crescent all the way around the box to the right, where Alexander-Arnold crossed for Salah. His touch killed the ball in a hectic box and from there you knew he could not miss: control, swivel, hit.

This felt like the end and that Newcastle summoned one more decisive moment showed their spirit. Liverpool had dropped two points in the title race and who knows what that does in the final calculation. But then, if one must drop points, then best to do so in games such as these when the evening is on a knife-edge and no one can say for sure if it is indeed two points lost or perhaps one gained.

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10:00 PM GMT

Robbie Fowler on Amazon Prime

“Mohamed Salah was unbelievable in the second half for Liverpool. He was a little bit-part in the first half, but was class after the interval.

“His stats and data are incredible. We talked about him getting that new contract and his agent should be there first thing in the morning to get him to sign that contract.

“He is that player who can change a game. He has moments and he is exceptional in those moments. He is a match winner.”

09:53 PM GMT

Eddie Howe speaking post-match

09:50 PM GMT

The thoughts of Arne Slot

“Twice we were one goal down and then one minute from the end we were a goal ahead so mixed feelings. We were outstanding in the second half but in the first we were not good enough for the quality Newcastle brought. Maybe in the end 3-3 was deserved. They were very aggressive in the first half and forced us into many mistakes, which led to a few chances for them. Although I did see a few things that I then saw in the second half. We played through them a few times. The second half was so much better and we had much more dominance and control. We created a lot of chances. We had more intensity in the second half and we were much better with the ball.

“After the week we had and we had one less day to prepare than they did, if you are able in an away game to change the game completely in the second half that is a very positive thing to take. If you want to win though you have to be better in the first half. Every time we need Mo Salah he scores an important goal and we are hoping and expecting that he can continue this for a long time. After the assist he gave and when we got it 1-1 he was outstanding. Great performance from him.

“Like all the players Kelleher is disappointed. When you are twice down you might be happy with a point but when you are ahead with a minute to go you are then disappointed. He made some good saves for us but he misjudged their equaliser.”

Arne Slot claps the travelling Liverpool fans
Liverpool are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after tonight’s draw - Ian Hodgson/AP

09:41 PM GMT

Fabian Schar speaking to Amazon Prime

09:37 PM GMT

Top of the table as it stands

  1. Liverpool- 35pts

  2. Chelsea- 28pts

  3. Arsenal- 28pts (still playing against Manchester United)

  4. Manchester City- 26pts

09:34 PM GMT

Meanwhile at the Emirates

Arsenal currently have the lead against Manchester United thanks to Jurrien Timber’s goal. That game kicked off at 8.15pm so there is around half an hour to go there and you can follow that game right here.

Aston Villa kicked off at the same time against Brentford and they lead 3-1 at Villa Park.

09:29 PM GMT

Match stats

Possession: Newcastle 41%-59% Liverpool

Shots: 17-16

Shots on target: 6-5

Touches in opposition box: 21-35

Corners: 5-6

09:28 PM GMT

Around the grounds

Everton 4-0 Wolves (FT)

Manchester City 3-0 Nottingham Forest (FT)

Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool (FT)

Southampton 1-5 Chelsea (FT)

Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United (57’)

Aston Villa 3-0 Brentford (54’)

09:25 PM GMT

Full-time

The final whistle goes and it finishes 3-3 at St. James’ Park.

09:24 PM GMT

90+3 mins: Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3

Newcastle are given a free-kick just outside the Liverpool box with 90 seconds remaining. Isak takes but it goes over the bar.

09:22 PM GMT

90+2 mins: Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3

Liverpool are appealing for a penalty against Burn for handball but it is not given. The arm that it strikes was tucked in but had it hit the other arm he would have been in trouble. In the Champions League that would have been given a penalty.

09:21 PM GMT

90 mins: Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3

Five added minutes. Liverpool are furious that Diaz is not given a penalty after being fouled by Longstaff but nothing is given. VAR stands by that decision.

09:20 PM GMT

GOAL! Schar scores equaliser

Newcastle are level with seconds left of normal time. Guimaraes sends a free-kick to the far post and inexplicably Kelleher lets it go. Schar slides in to keep it in play and manages to squeeze it home.

09:17 PM GMT

87 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 3

Triple change for Newcastle:

OFF Joelinton, Gordon, Tonali

ON Wilson, Willock, S Longstaff

09:13 PM GMT

GOAL! Salah expertly puts Liverpool into the lead

He was so unlucky moments ago but he now has his second goal of the night to give the visitors the lead. He has had some amazing moments in the last few minutes and now he puts Liverpool ahead for the first time tonight. Alexander-Arnold picks him out from the right-hand side of the box. He takes one touch, swivels and slots home into the bottom corner.

09:12 PM GMT

82 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2

So unlucky for Salah. He does brilliantly on the right-hand side of the Newcastle box to get past Hall and is shot comes back off the frame of the goal. He already has a goal and an assist to his name and he was so close to getting a second goal there.

09:09 PM GMT

79 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2

Diaz’s shot from the left-hand side of the box is blocked and falls at the feet of Nunez around eight yards out. He drags his shot well wide and he has wasted a big chance for the visitors. Nunez did score two late goals on this ground last year as Liverpool came from 1-0 down to win 2-1.

09:08 PM GMT

78 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2

Isak goes down wanting a penalty after a challenge from Quansah but referee Andy Madley waves it away. VAR does check but sticks with the on-field decision.

That looked like a penalty to me. Why would Isak fall over if he had gone round Quansah who was the last defender. The Liverpool defender did not touch the ball but did touch Isak and tripped him over.

09:04 PM GMT

74 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2

Jones blazes over a good chance from just outside the box.

Newcastle change:

OFF Murphy

ON Barnes

09:03 PM GMT

73 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2

Murphy is in behind and his lifted effort over Kelleher goes wide. Looking at the replays Murphy was onside so that would have stood had it gone in.

09:01 PM GMT

71 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 2

Nunez is booked for a dissent after being penalised for a foul on Gordon. There was absolutely no contact on Gordon so it is no wonder Nunez was furious as it gives Newcastle a free-kick in a good position. Nothing comes from that free-kick.

08:58 PM GMT

GOAL! Salah equalises

Liverpool are back level once more. Alexander-Arnold is found on the right by Szoboszlai and his first cross is blocked. It comes back to him and he picks out Salah, who slots home with a first-time effort. Instant impact from Slot’s substitutions. 20 PL goal involvements for Salah now this season.

What a game of football this is turning into as Newcastle retake the lead and it is another one of their nig name players who has delivered. Gordon missed a simple chance in the first half but has more than made amends in the second with a lovely cutback and finish. He appeared to make a too much talk gesture as part of his celebration. That’s right, Anthony, if you do your talking on the pitch nobody will have any reason to criticise.

But Liverpool have shown the class of champions to once again equalise as Alexander-Arnold makes a fool of Lewis Hall and crosses for Salah to score from close range. These two teams have played out some classics through the years and this is turning into another one.

08:56 PM GMT

67 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 1

Liverpool triple change:

OFF Gomez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister

ON Alexander-Arnold, Szoboszlai, Diaz.

Quansah has shifted inside from right back to centre back with Gomez being replaced by Alexander-Arnold.

08:56 PM GMT

66 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 1

Isak thinks he has his second of the night but the offside flag eventually goes up as he had strayed into an offside position as the ball was played in behind the Liverpool defence to him.

08:55 PM GMT

65 mins: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 1

Liverpool could be back level within moments of falling behind again. Robertson’s cross takes a touch and finds Jones at the back post. His header is saved by Pope on his line.

08:52 PM GMT

GOAL! Newcastle retake the lead

Against the run of play Newcastle are back ahead. Isak finds Gordon inside the box on the left. Gordon cuts inside and just about beats Kelleher. Liverpool should have been 2-1 up not long after equalising and have now been punished for not taking that chance.

08:50 PM GMT

60 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1

Gordon drives towards the Liverpool box and hits a stinging effort that is well blocked by the head of Gomez.

08:47 PM GMT

58 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1

Tonali is now into the book for a pull back on Jones.

08:46 PM GMT

57 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1

It is now driving rain at St. James’ Park and it is the travelling Liverpool fans who are making all the noise up in the heavens.

08:44 PM GMT

54 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1

How are Liverpool not ahead? Gakpo is found at the back post and Pope is nowhere. Gakpo should score but his header goes across goal and Nunez cannot quite tap it into an empty net at the other post. Arne Slot will be wondering how his side are not 2-1 up.

08:43 PM GMT

52 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 1

Liverpool nearly ahead. Gakpo’s dangerous cross is headed back to him by Burn and he hits it first time. It is blocked by Schar.

08:40 PM GMT

GOAL! Jones equalises for the visitors

Arne Slot will be happier now. Mac Allister picks out Salah on the right and he drives into the box on the right. His ball with the outside of the left boot finds Jones, who hits it first time and it flies into the top of the net. A glorious assist from Salah, who is now up to 19 goal involvements in the Premier League so far this season. Pretty decent finish from Jones. 1-1.

Well that is the ideal response from Liverpool and a moment of class from the league leaders. You have to give all the credit to Mo Salah who has had a quiet game but to thread a pass through to Curtis Jones inside the area, when there did not seem to be any space to do so, well that is why he is one of Liverpool’s all time greats.

08:38 PM GMT

49 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0

Still in the early stages of this second half but Arne Slot will not be massively impressed by his side’s start to this half. He would have expected a better reaction than this.

08:35 PM GMT

Second half

We are back under way at St. James’ Park. No changes at the break for either side.

08:32 PM GMT

Keep across the action

You can follow Arsenal’s home game against Manchester United with our dedicated live blog but you also can keep across all the action from around the grounds right here.

08:29 PM GMT

Match stats

Possession: Newcastle 39%-61% Liverpool

Shots: 9-5

Shots on target: 4-1

Touches in opposition box: 12-11

Corners: 5-4

08:24 PM GMT

Around the grounds

Everton 2-0 Wolves (HT)

Manchester City 2-0 Nottingham Forest (HT)

Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool (HT)

Southampton 1-3 Chelsea (HT)

Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (10’)

Aston Villa 0-0 Brentford (10’)

08:23 PM GMT

HT verdict

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have all lost at St James’ Park this season after falling behind to Newcastle. Manchester City could only manage a draw after taking the lead.

When Newcastle click; when their star players are in this sort of mood, they are good enough to beat anyone on home soil and have proven that consistently under Eddie Howe.

This has become a fascinating test for Arne Slot’s side. If they thought after the win over Man City that they were going to canter to a Premier League title, this is reality slapping them around the face.

Newcastle should be more than 1-0 up and how costly will that miss by Gordon be? Liverpool have been made to look very ordinary so far, but the home side surely cannot keep this sort of pace up for 90 minutes. It’s been a thrilling game of football so far and Slot’s men need to play a lot better after the break if they are going to avoid a second league defeat of the season.

08:19 PM GMT

Half-time

There is the whistle and Newcastle lead 1-0 at the break thanks to Isak’s goal.

08:15 PM GMT

45 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0

Gravenberch is booked for a foul on Joelinton.

There will be three added minutes at the end of this first half.

08:12 PM GMT

42 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0

Quansah is booked after tugging at Guimaraes’ shirt.

08:10 PM GMT

39 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0

Murphy shoots from range and his shot goes just past Kelleher’s right post. Mac Allister had gone down in the build-up to that shot and once again it appears referee Andy Madley missed another foul.

08:09 PM GMT

38 mins: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0

Newcastle counter after what looked like a foul from Guimaraes on Jones and Gomez makes an absolute mess of a pass back to his keeper. That gives Gordon the chance of a one-on-one with Kelleher but the Irish keeper makes the save. Big chance for Gordon but looking back at the replays it was a clear foul by Guimaraes on Jones on the edge of the Newcastle box.

Oh dear Anthony Gordon has to score there, gifted the ball by Gomez and left with only the goalkeeper to beat he has produced a terrible finish.

It should be 2-0 and Liverpool would have been left with a mountain to climb in the second half but Gordon has fluffed his lines against the club he thought he would be joining back in the summer.

But should VAR have intervened after Van Dijk appeared to deliberately run into the side of his head with his shoulder?

08:05 PM GMT

GOAL! Isak smashes home side into the lead

What a finish that is. Newcastle are into the lead. Isak strikes it from around 25 yards out and beats Kelleher.

What a goal from Alexander Isak. We had asked him for more before the game and so had manager Eddie Howe and how he has delivered. It had been a really strong first half an hour from Newcastle who have been on the front foot as much as they can against a side of Liverpool’s class and they deserve their goal. Liverpool have struggled to contain them.

Whether they can keep this sort of pace up, with and without the ball, remains to be seen but the visitors have been made to look second best. Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak have both shown their quality this evening, but the best player on the pitch so far has been the one man wrecking ball Joelinton who has dominated the midfield battle.

Both sides had clipped the outside of the post, MacAllister for Liverpool and Murphy for Newcastle before Isak’s stunner. This is Premier League football at its high octane best. This has turned into a big test of Liverpool’s title credentials now.

08:04 PM GMT

34 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Isak feeds the ball through Van Dijk’s legs and into the path of Hall, who makes the run into the Liverpool box. Gomez steps in with a crucial block and Kelleher can get out to smother the ball.

08:00 PM GMT

29 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

How has Joelinton not been booked there? He has already committed a few fouls and the latest is a late sliding challenge on Gravenberch but he escapes a yellow somehow. Considering Mac Allister has been booked that feels strange why Joelinton did not receive a yellow there.

07:58 PM GMT

28 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Big, big chance for Salah. Quansah makes a great driving run into the Newcastle box and finds Salah with a cute pass. The Egyptian takes a heavy touch though and the chance is gone. A better first touch or perhaps hitting it first time and surely Salah would have buried that.

07:55 PM GMT

25 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Gakpo nicks the ball off Livramento inside the Newcastle box. He cuts inside Burn and takes on the shot from a narrow angle, which goes behind for a corner.

Mac Allister’s delivery is into a dangerous area but Newcastle just about manage to clear their lines.

07:53 PM GMT

23 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Isak is played in behind by Hall and he looks just offside but play is allowed to go on. He moves into the Liverpool box and, after some neat footwork, picks out Guimaraes to his right. He takes the shot on but Kelleher makes a fairly routine save.

07:52 PM GMT

22 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Murphy hits the post. Salah is dispossessed inside his own half and Isak finds the run of Murphy on the right. He gets into the box and drives a shot across Kelleher, striking the outside of the far post.

Jacob Murphy reacts after his shot hits the post
Hits the frame of the goal - Ian Hodgson/AP

07:50 PM GMT

20 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Mac Allister is shown the first yellow card of the night and will miss Liverpool’s game against Everton on Saturday due to suspension. That was very soft and a harsh yellow as he came shoulder to shoulder with Schar.

07:45 PM GMT

15 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool register their first shot on target of the night. Salah’s attempted ball across is deflected into the path of Mac Allister on the edge of the box. The Argentinian takes it first time on the half volley and Pope does well to get down to his left to make the save,

Moments later Mac Allister hits the post with another strike from the edge of the box as Newcastle failed to clear. Mac Allister pleads for a corner which is not given and he was right to appeal as it did take a deflection.

Alexis Mac Allister has his hands on his head
Two chances in quick succession for Alexis Mac Allister - Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images

07:43 PM GMT

13 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Isak plays a one-two with Joelinton and it looks like there is a chance for him to take the shot from the left-hand side of the box but instead he opts to try and find a teammate, which is cut out by Van Dijk. That was a surprise that Isak did not shoot.

The corner is taken short and, when the delivery comes in, Liverpool are able to head away. They counter but Nunez’s ball into Salah near the Newcastle box is not to his feet and Liverpool are forced to recycle.

07:37 PM GMT

7 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Jones fouls Gordon on the Newcastle left, which will give the home side the chance to send it into the box. Liverpool have been slow to get going tonight and have been a touch sloppy.

Hall sends it in but Kelleher makes the catch.

07:34 PM GMT

3 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

Gordon takes an outswinger, which is headed out to the edge of the box, where Hall takes on the shot but gets it all wrong.

After the customary 30 seconds off, Guimaraes is back onto the pitch.

Bruno Guimaraes helped back to his feet
Bruno Guimaraes back to his feet - Paul Ellis/Getty Images

07:32 PM GMT

2 mins: Newcastle 0 Liverpool 0

First chance falls to the home side. Tonali fakes the shot initially and then curls towards the far corner from just outside the box, forcing Kelleher into a save down to his left to push it behind for a corner to the hosts.

Play has been halted as Guimaraes is down after a challenge from Gravenberch in the build-up to that chance.

Sandro Tonali takes on a shot
First shot on target tonight for the hosts - Stu Forster/Getty Images

07:30 PM GMT

Kick-off

We are under way at St. James’ Park.

07:26 PM GMT

Kick-off fast approaching

Both sides have emerged from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at St. James’ Park.

Interesting quirky fact of the evening. Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes has lost every single coin toss this season, at St James’ Park, in the league. You will know if that losing run has continued if Liverpool turn the teams around so the Magpies are not attacking downhill towards the Gallowgate End in the second half. Opposition teams have started to make Newcastle attack uphill if they win the toss here.

07:23 PM GMT

Reminder of the team news

Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak.

Substitutes: Dubravka, Wilson, Barnes, Targett, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Quansah, Robertson, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.

Substitutes: Jaros, Endo, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Elliott, Nallo, Alexander-Arnold, Morton, Nyoni.

07:22 PM GMT

Isak fit to start

Alexander Isak warming up
He was a doubt going into tonight’s game but Alexander Isak starts up top for Newcastle - Stu Forster/Getty Images

07:19 PM GMT

Kelleher in top form

Liverpool have been without Alisson Becker since early October but, like he did last season when Alisson was injured, Caoimhin Kelleher has been fantastic in between the sticks for Arne Slot’s side.

07:15 PM GMT

Home side out to warm up

07:13 PM GMT

Liverpool gearing up

Liverpool players warming up
Liverpool are nine points clear at the top of the Premier League - Scott Heppell/Reuters
Mohamed Salah warming up
Mohamed Salah has 18 goal involvements in the Premier League so far this season - Scott Jeppell/Reuters

07:10 PM GMT

Around the grounds

If you want to keep up to date with all the events from tonight’s Premier League action, you can follow our clockwatch blog.

If you want to follow the Arsenal vs Manchester United game which kicks off at 8.15pm, click here.

07:06 PM GMT

Salah may have played last game against Man City if 115 charges lead to relegation, jokes Slot

Arne Slot, the Liverpool manager, has joked that Mohamed Salah may have played his last Anfield game against Manchester City because the Premier League champions could be relegated for spending breaches.

Slot was responding to Salah’s remarks after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over City, when the Egyptian once again raised the prospect of being on his farewell lap at Anfield with his contract expiring in July 2025.

“Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 accusations so expects them not to be in the Premier League next season! I do expect them to be in the Premier League,” said Slot.

Chris Bascombe has the full story from Arne Slot’s pre-match press conference.

06:59 PM GMT

Get your fix

06:56 PM GMT

Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak are letting Newcastle down when needed most

Newcastle United have a problem with their big-name players. And as we arrive in December, the evidence is clear. None of them are playing well, none of them look like the same players they were last season and none of them are justifying the hype that surrounds them.

It raises the question; do Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak think they are too good for Newcastle? Have they had their heads turned by the speculation linking them with moves away? Are they no longer fully motivated for that reason?

Accusations like this will not be popular. The trio are still the most celebrated and revered players on Tyneside. Calling them out will rub some up the wrong way, but sometimes difficult questions need asking, especially when the evidence points to an uncomfortable conclusion.

Luke Edwards gives his views on Gordon, Isak and Guimaraes.

06:50 PM GMT

Murphy into Newcastle starting XI

Although Liverpool have made more changes, including resting Trent Alexander-Arnold, the big selection curveball has come from Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.

Of all the changes he could have made after the toothless performance at Crystal Palace last weekend, few would have predicted that Jacob Murphy would come into the starting XI in place of Joe Willock.

Murphy has not started for the Magpies since the 1-0 home defeat to Brighton back in October and when he has appeared from the bench, he has done little to suggest he was in the sort of form to lead to a recall.

It is fair to say the call has caused a stir on social media and should things go badly tonight, there will be questions asked about manager Eddie Howe’s judgement.

In truth, though, it is not Murphy who is likely to win or lose the game for Newcastle. They badly need their star players to step up against the league leaders tonight. Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon have all been poor this season and the team are stuttering without the match winners and most creative players.

Newcastle have a miserable record against Liverpool and Howe has not managed to beat them yet as Magpies boss. They somehow contrived to lose 2-1 against ten men here last season and the match winner that day, Darwin Nunez, has been brought into the starting XI by Arne Slot.

06:47 PM GMT

Home side arriving

06:41 PM GMT

Full team news

Alexander Isak is fit to start for Newcastle despite going off injured during their 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Eddie Howe makes one change from that game as Jacob Murphy replaces Joe Willock.

Newcastle: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak.

Substitutes: Dubravka, Wilson, Barnes, Targett, Osula, Almiron, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff.

Arne Slot makes three changes from Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Manchester City. Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah come into the starting XI, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Quansah, Robertson, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.

Substitutes: Jaros, Endo, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Elliott, Nallo, Alexander-Arnold, Morton, Nyoni.

06:37 PM GMT

Virgil van Dijk dominated Erling Haaland – now Liverpool must offer their captain new contract

Virgil van Dijk is so good that he makes Erling Haaland play more like his father Alfie.

If Manchester City’s superstar striker tries to swap shirts with his Liverpool nemesis after each meeting, he must possess a masochistic streak to remind him of harrowing experiences. Perhaps he is minded to pursue the Liverpool No 4 jersey to give himself a sense of how it feels to get close to the Dutch captain.

For a successive season at Anfield, this was not so much a duel between the Premier League’s best defender and most prolific striker as the heavyweight versus flyweight, Haaland reduced to the role of passenger in an insipid attacking display.

Given the calibre of opposition, Van Dijk’s demonstration in Sunday’s 2-0 victory was as immaculate as any produced in his first six years at Anfield.

For more from Chris Bascombe, click here.

06:31 PM GMT

Milestone night for Jones and Gakpo

06:28 PM GMT

Midweek fixtures

Tuesday:

Ipswich 0-1 Crystal Palace

Leicester 3-1 West Ham

Tonight:

Everton vs Wolves (7.30pm)

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest (7.30pm)

Newcastle vs Liverpool (7.30pm)

Southampton vs Chelsea (7.30pm)

Arsenal vs Manchester United (8.15pm)

Aston Villa vs Brentford (8.15pm)

Thursday:

Fulham vs Brighton (7.30pm)

Bournemouth vs Tottenham (8.15pm)

You can follow the Arsenal vs Manchester United game with our dedicated live blog and you can also keep up to date with all the Premier League games.

06:20 PM GMT

Newcastle team news

06:18 PM GMT

Liverpool team news

06:17 PM GMT

Match preview

League leaders Liverpool travel to St. James’ Park tonight to take on Newcastle. Arne Slot’s side sit nine points clear at the summit of the Premier League after a dominant 2-0 win against defending Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday, which came days after another resounding 2-0 win against defending European champions Real Madrid a week ago. The only Premier League in which there was a bigger gap at the top after 13 games was in 1993-94, when eventual champions Manchester United led by 11 points.

Arne Slot has won 18 of his first 20 games in charge of Liverpool and the 34 points his side have accrued in the league so far equals the record in the Premier League alongside Slot’s compatriot Guus Hiddink at Chelsea in 2009.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot looks on before their game against Newcastle
Liverpool travel to Newcastle tonight aiming to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League - Scott Heppell/Reuters

Newcastle took the lead at Crystal Palace on Saturday but had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park. They have won just two of the last nine league matches and sit in the bottom half of the table in 11th place on 19 points. Despite being down in 11th, they are just four points off the top four and six points behind second-place Arsenal.

In this fixture last season, Liverpool came from 1-0 and a man down to win 2-1. They had Virgil van Dijk sent off in the first half but came back to take all three points thanks to a late double from substitute Darwin Nunez. Liverpool have won on five of their last six league visits for St. James’ Park and are unbeaten in the last 15 league meetings between the sides.

Liverpool will be without Ibrahima Konate, Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota. Italian forward Federico Chiesa could return for Slot’s side tonight.

Newcastle will be without defenders Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth and Sven Botman.

Team news to follow shortly.