Goals:

0-1: Willems (7, cleverly turned Alexander-Arnold to cap a sweet counter-attack by firing right-footed from just inside the area into Adrian’s top corner)

1-1: Mane (28, fed the ball by Robertson and then took a touch before side-footing inside the top left of Dubravka’s net)

2-1: Mane (39, his presence prevented Dubravka from gathering Firmino’s pass properly and Mane tapped into the empty net)

3-1: Salah (73, played a lovely one-two with Firmino, whose delightful flick was followed by Salah’s tidy finish)

Bookings: None

Referee: Andre Marriner (Walsall) – somehow didn’t give a penalty when Lascelles pulled down Matip when Newcastle led. 5

Attendance: 51,430

Entertainment: **

Liv Newc

Shots on 8 1

Shots off 13 7

Corners 10 1

Fouls 5 4

Offsides 2 1

LIVERPOOL: Adrian 6; Alexander-Arnold 6, Matip 6, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Fabinho 6, Wijnaldum 6 (Shaqiri 84), Oxlade-Chamberlain 6; Mane 8, Salah 7, Origi 5 (FIRMINO 37, 8). Subs (not used): Kelleher (gk), Gomez, Lallana, Milner, Henderson.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (5-4-1):

5 Dubravka: Made a number of good saves to prevent more goals but guilty of being partially to blame for Mane’s second;

4 Krafth: Allowed Robertson to get in behind him for the equaliser and could easily have pulled Newcastle level

6 Schar: Looked classy on the ball when he had it and made plenty of tackles against a formidable forward line

5 Lascelles: Unable to keep the Reds in check and lucky to get away with not conceding a penalty in the first half

5 Dummett: Put his body on the line plenty, including for Salah’s strike, but not as effective as he was at Spurs

6 WILLEMS: Impressed in the first half when he pushed on, and his goal was something top savour;

6 Atsu: Played well in an attacking sense but gifted Liverpool possession for their second

5 Shelvey: Didn't influence things in the middle like he needed to if the home side were to be kept quiet

5 Hayden: Had a very similar afternoon to Shelvey in that he worked hard enough without imposing himself on things

5 Almiron: Got through plenty of work without ever really looking like he would do anything with it in the final third;

5 Joelinton: Had a thankless task as the lead man and never got the chance he got at Spurs to score

Subs

Muto (for Almiron 66): Unable to have an impact. 5

Manquillo (for Krafth 66): A few passes down the line to clear his lines. 5

(not used): Darlow (gk), Fernandez, Clark, M Longstaff, Ki.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Roberto Firmino - introduced earlier than Klopp wanted and that made things much harder for Newcastle.