A record-equalling twentieth English championship is inside attain for after they ran out 2-0 winners over at Anfield this night.
Earlier than the match, Arne Slot emphasised the Premier League title was not but secured, even when Liverpool had a breakthrough weekend, having grabbed the symbolic torch from defending champions Manchester Metropolis, whereas their nearest challengers, Arsenal, suffered a stunning loss to West Ham.
In one other European league, Slot talked about that an 11-point lead — which that they had earlier than this week’s fixtures have been performed — at this stage of the season can be practically not possible to beat. Nevertheless, the Premier League is simply too aggressive to turn into complacent. Tonight, it was clear that Liverpool should not solely main the pack but additionally a step or two forward of the competitors, significantly with a participant like Mohamed Salah, who can win any recreation on his personal.
FT: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle
It wasn’t their irresistible talisman who broke the impasse; as an alternative, it got here from an surprising supply everybody ought to have seen coming. In his 59th Premier League look, Dominik Szoboszlai scored in back-to-back video games for the primary time within the competitors.
All three of Liverpool’s earliest Premier League targets scored at Anfield for the reason that begin of final season have been netted by Szoboszlai: the third minute in opposition to Aston Villa in September 2023, the eleventh minute in opposition to Ipswich in January 2025, and the eleventh minute in opposition to Newcastle as we speak.
Issues couldn’t have began any worse for Newcastle, who turned up on Merseyside with out their deadly marksman, Alexander Isak. The 25-year-old Swedish ahead — presently second within the Premier League scoring charts behind Salah, having netted 19 targets for the Magpies this season — was dominated out as a consequence of a groin damage.
Even when Isak had been accessible, this could all the time be an final problem for Newcastle. They did not register a single shot on the right track within the first half. Three of the final six cases the place Newcastle has had just one shot or fewer within the first half of a Premier League recreation have occurred at Anfield in opposition to Liverpool (April 2021 and January 2024).
An brisk efficiency from the hosts was surprising, on condition that seven Liverpool gamers have been making their fifth begin in simply two weeks. A much-needed break is on the horizon this weekend, because the Reds is not going to take part in FA Cup motion.
Szoboszlai’s effort helped Liverpool turn into the primary Premier League membership to attain 100 targets in all competitions this season. Moreover, Luis Diaz had an encouraging efficiency within the first half, offering an help and contributing to 4 of Liverpool’s 5 pictures throughout that interval.
Simply after the hour mark, Alexis Mac Allister lastly put Newcastle out of their distress, with Salah offering the help. This marked Salah’s seventeenth help within the Premier League this season, greater than another participant. He subsequently turned the third participant in Premier League historical past to help 17 or extra targets in open play throughout a single season, becoming a member of Thierry Henry (20 assists in 2002-03) and Kevin De Bruyne (17 assists in 2019-20).
Salah has additionally contributed to targets in his final seven league appearances, with seven targets and 4 assists. He has additionally been straight concerned in 42 targets throughout 28 Premier League matches this season, scoring 25 targets and offering 17 assists. That is his joint-highest tally in a single marketing campaign, matching the 42 targets he contributed within the 2017-18 season.
He ought to be the unanimous Footballer of the 12 months and Premier League ‘Most Worthwhile Participant’ selection.
Early within the second half, information got here by means of that Mikel Arteta’s crew was held to a goalless draw in opposition to Nottingham Forest. This end result means there’s now a 13-point hole, though the Gunners have a recreation in hand. With 10 extra rounds to play, it appears the title race is almost determined. Barring an unprecedented collapse from the present leaders, mixed with Arsenal rediscovering final season’s kind, we’re simply counting down the weeks till it turns into a mathematical certainty, which may occur sooner reasonably than later.
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