Liverpool kickstart 2024 with dramatic Newcastle win | OneFootball

Liverpool moved three points clear atop the Premier League table with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Newcastle in the first game of 2024.

Scorers: Salah 49′, (PEN) 87′, Jones 74′, Gakpo 78′; Isak 53′, Botman 83′

On 18 minutes, Luis Díaz had the ball in the back of the net after being teed up by Núñez but a narrow offside call resulted in the goal being ruled out but he made up for that within moments by charging into the penalty area and being brought down.

From the resulting spot-kick, Mo Salah was denied by a strong stop from Dúbravka, his fourth penalty miss from his last 10 attempts for the Reds.

Núñez was guilty of another big missed chance shortly afterwards when he found himself through on goal but again, Dúbravka was equal to the attempt before a Magpies counter-attack saw Dan Burn denied by another marginal offside call.

The close calls continued back up the other when Alexander-Arnold flashed an outrageous volley from an almost impossible angle close to the byline against the post.

Shortly after half-time, the deadlock was finally broken when Salah made amends for his penalty miss by tapping home from close range after being unselfishly teed up by Núñez, who was then denied brilliantly by Dúbravka from point blank range.

And that save became even more crucial when the Magpies found a surprise equaliser against the run of play as Alexander Isak finished coolly after being played in behind Virgil van Dijk.

Dúbravka was again called into action to preserve the parity when substitute Cody Gakpo drilled a low effort on goal which he got down well to his right to keep out before he was beaten again on 74 minutes when Liverpool cut the visitors open down the right, allowing Diogo Jota to tee up Jones for another simple finish.

Gakpo then netted five minutes later with another close range goal.

Newcastle appeared to have set up a grandstand finish when Sven Botman headed home from a corner but a controversial penalty award for what looked to be a Jota dive in the area allowed Salah to score from the spot and finally put the result beyond doubt.

The Reds move three points clear of Aston Villa in second, while Newcastle remain ninth.