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Liverpool treated their fans to a 4-0 win over Newcastle United courtesy goals from Dejan Lovren, Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho. The win saw Liverpool open up a seven-point gap over Manchester City who slumped to a 1-2 loss against Leicester away from home.
Joselu could have put the visitors ahead in the 8th minute, but his poorly executed header went wide after bouncing off the floor. Liverpool then opened the scoring through Lovren's sweetly struck volley in the 11th minute.
Jurgen Klopp's troops could have put the game to bed before the interval as a plethora of chances fell to Sadio Mane, who could not convert due to poor finishing.
Shortly after the interval, Liverpool doubled their lead through Salah's penalty in the 47th minute. Newcastle showed no hunger after that, and the game was effectively sealed in the 79th minute as Shaqiri tapped home from a Trent Alexander-Arnold assist.
The rout was complete five minutes from time after Fabinho headed home close range.
On that note, let us take a look at three things that helped Liverpool secure a 4-0 win against Newcastle on Boxing Day.
#3 Lovren's early strike sets the tone for a comprehensive win
Rafa Benitez came to Anfield and set up a back five comprising of Yedlin, Fernandez, Lascelles, Dummett and Ritchie to stifle Liverpool's front three. In games like this, where teams defend deep in their own half, it is important for teams on the offensive to get an early goal.
Liverpool probed sharply and took a well deserved lead in the 11th minute after Lovren's sweetly struck volley found its way to the back of Martin Dubravka's goal. Lascelles could have and should have done better by clearing the header away from danger, but instead saw his headed clearance fall straight to the Croatian international.
Newcastle looked clueless in possession and could not enjoy a sustained spell on the ball which could have forced the Liverpool rearguard into action. The midfield trio of Diame, Kenedy and Hayden lacked the required composure, discipline and quality, which left the likes of Joselu and Muto bereft of any service from the middle of the park.
The hosts took advantage of Newcastle's lack of creativity and tactical discipline to create a wealth of opportunities. A lack of effort from the visitors saw Liverpool run amok in the second half to secure a comfortable 4-0 win at Anfield.
Overall, massive credit must be given to Lovren, whose early goal altered the game's momentum and provided the platform for Jurgen Klopp's side to secure their 16th win of the season.
#2 Liverpool's defence unperturbed by Newcastle's attack
Liverpool secured their 16th win of the season over a toothless Newcastle side whose negative approach to the game backfired and condemned them to their 10th loss of the season.
Benitez set up with a back five comprising of Yedlin, Fernandez, Lascelles, Dummett and Ritchie. None of them could withstand Liverpool's pace and guile, and Lascelles' mistake in the 11th minute was pounced upon by Lovren who slammed home Liverpool's opener.
Newcastle also had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 8th minute which was squandered by Joselu. From the moment they conceded the first goal, Newcastle did not show the requisite response to hit back at the hosts.
Instead, they were wasteful in possession and could not string together four or five meaningful passes which could have asked questions from a resolute Liverpool defence.
Their midfield looked out of ideas whilst in possession, and never maintained a compact shape. That gave a free pass to the likes of Shaqiri, Wijnaldum and Henderson to dictate the game's tempo.
The duo of Yoshinori Muto and Joselu completed the game with a pass success rate of 57% and 60% respectively, losing 3/4 and 6/12 of their aerial duels.
Overall, Liverpool's defence had a field day against a toothless Newcastle attack.
#1 Liverpool's midfield in full control
Jurgen Klopp changed his midfield three from the game against Wolves which saw Xherdan Shaqiri and Georginio Wijnaldum reinstated to the starting XI in place of Naby Keita and Fabinho. Jordan Henderson retained his place and played as the number six against the Magpies.
The midfield trio looked lively from the word go and created a number of opportunities for the front three to score from. They stuck to their task of remaining disciplined in the middle, and did not allow the likes of Diame and Hayden to dominate them physically.
Henderson remained composed in the number six position throughout the game and kept things simple in the middle of the park. The skipper ended the game with a pass accuracy rate of 88% (54 passes in the opposition half compared to 31 passes in his own half) and recovered possession on seven occasions.
Wijnaldum used his vast expanse of energy against his former employers and provided the perfect link between defence and attack. The Dutch international ended with a pass success rate of 97%, winning four duels and recovering possession thrice before being hauled shortly after the hour mark.
Shaqiri, being his usual self, took on Newcastle's defenders at will and acted as the creative outlet for Klopp's side. He rounded off an impressive display by scoring Liverpool's third goal of the evening and his sixth of the season.
In general, it was a fantastic outing for Liverpool's midfield who played a massive role in Liverpool's Boxing Day win over a beleaguered Newcastle.
