Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle
Goals: Szoboszlai 11′, Mac Allister 63′
Anfield — With a commanding lead of thirteen points and only ten matches remaining, Liverpool continues to march confidently towards their 20th league title. Even when their performance wanes, as seen during the latter stages of their encounter with Newcastle United, the depth and quality of this team render any notion of jeopardy nearly irrelevant. Just one league defeat as March approaches is a testament to the exceptional quality of this squad, which remains leagues ahead of the competition. Manchester City has been subdued, Arsenal appears to be faltering, and Chelsea is struggling to find its footing. There is simply no formidable rival left in this title race.
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#color-context-related-article-3550871 {–inews-color-primary: #8BC419;–inews-color-secondary: #F6FBED;–inews-color-tertiary: #8BC419;} Liverpool fans should be cautious about what they wish for – just look at De Bruyne
Newcastle finds itself in a perplexing situation this season, showcasing a brittle lineup that arrived at Anfield following three defeats in five Premier League outings. Aside from a brief 20-minute surge at the start of the second half, their chances of avoiding another loss felt slim. It’s fortunate that Jacob Murphy isn’t fluent in Italian, as his hasty cross-cum-shot was a moment of desperation that wasted Sandro Tonali’s precise break and reflected the anxiety permeating the Newcastle squad.
Things took a turn for the worse shortly after when Dominik Szoboszlai exhibited the calmness that was sorely lacking in the visitors’ performance, putting Liverpool ahead within the first ten minutes. With ten matches left to play, six of which are at Anfield, a title celebration feels imminent.
Diaz and Szoboszlai connect to give Liverpool the lead at Anfield ⚽
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/XpKq3KGA9u — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 26, 2025
Arne Slot, serving a two-match touchline ban, could only watch from the stands, where he might as well have been wrapped in a blanket with a flask, engrossed in crossword puzzles, given the lack of risk his team presented in the first half. It’s hard to believe these two sides will clash again in just over a fortnight for the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Newcastle will be hoping that Alexander Isak recovers from the groin injury that sidelined him from this match.
Such is the level at which Liverpool operates that even a handful of Isaks may not have tipped the balance. Newcastle’s game plan focused on containment, which only invited an aggressive Liverpool to attack. Diogo Jota, starting in place of Curtis Jones, partnered with Luis Diaz, creating a constant menace for the Newcastle defense and never allowing them a moment’s respite.
Player of the Match
Dominik Szoboszlai: Another goal, another victory. That brings his tally to seven this season, and no player appears to be in better form than this talented individual. The intensity, aggression, and relentless work ethic of this Liverpool team demand a monumental effort from opponents if they hope to avoid humiliation, especially at Anfield. Liverpool plays with a blend of humility and tenacity, carrying no passengers. The likes of Mo Salah, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk form an impressive lineup, yet none carry an air of arrogance among them.
When it seemed that Newcastle was starting to gain some control, Liverpool shifted into a higher gear to reassert their dominance. Mac Allister, embodying the perfect mixture of skill and hard work within this squad, doubled the lead with a precise right-footed strike.
There’s ample breathing room for Liverpool as Alexis Mac Allister extends the lead 🎯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/IMKJjO0KII — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 26, 2025
With only one Premier League fixture scheduled for April, against bottom club Southampton, the fixture list has been extraordinarily favorable for Liverpool. The greatest threat they face now is from within. However, even if they were to suffer from a bout of complacency, their rivals appear too fragile to capitalize on any potential slip-ups.
In what has been a remarkable season, this victory marks Liverpool’s 32nd win in 43 matches, the most successful record among Europe’s top five leagues, surpassing even Real Madrid by two wins. Newcastle must significantly improve in the coming weeks if they aim to thwart Liverpool from claiming what could be the first of a potential treble this season.
