Newcastle win a great squad performance - Slot
Liverpool continued their charge towards the Premier League title as a 2-0 win over Newcastle put them 13 points clear at the top of the table.
On an evening when second-placed Arsenal dropped points in a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, Arne Slot's side took full advantage at Anfield.
Slot, beginning his two-game touchline ban, watched from the stands as Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a scuffed strike past Nick Pope.
Alexis Mac Allister added to the jubilant atmosphere in the second half, with chants of "We're going to win the league" heard from the Kop after the Argentine swept Mohamed Salah's pass high into the left corner.
The visitors lacked a clinical edge up front. Alexander Isak, their top scorer this season, was absent because of a groin injury.
Callum Wilson deputised for the in-form Sweden striker, but he skewed a clear-cut effort wide in the first half after being handed his first league start of the campaign.
Newcastle sit sixth after finishing this game empty-handed - three points behind Manchester City in fourth and a guaranteed spot in next season's Champions League.
However, Eddie Howe's team can gain revenge against Liverpool when they meet again at Wembley in the final of the Carabao Cup on 16 March.
Midfield marvels move Liverpool one step closer
Szoboszlai has scored five goals in the Premier League this season
When the final whistle blew at the Etihad on Sunday, Szoboszlai dropped to the floor in exhaustion as Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over the reigning champions.
The Hungary international had been a powerhouse in midfield, running from deep to grab a goal and an assist as the Reds established a double-digit points gap between themselves and Arsenal.
Again, the midfielder proved crucial against Newcastle.
For the breakthrough goal, he cleverly held his charge into the box, wrong-footing Sandro Tonali before his low strike trickled through.
Szoboszlai, who went close to adding a second with a curling effort from the edge of the Newcastle area before the break, won more tackles than any other Liverpool player as they kept their visitors' chances to a minimum.
Mac Allister added to the magic, starting and finishing the move for his goal, playing in Salah before finding space in the box to have a clear strike.
Salah had another strong game. He often waltzed past Lewis Hall and Dan Burn in the Newcastle box, but the Egypt star could not add to the scoring on this occasion.
He was forced to settle for an assist - his 42nd goal involvement in the league this season.
With only 10 games left to play, and with six of those fixtures at Anfield, Slot's team are fast approaching the finish line and edging closer to a 20th English title.
Wilson rusty as Newcastle falter without Isak
Howe 'disappointed' with both goals conceded
As soon as Newcastle's starting line-up was announced, the travelling support must have been concerned.
No Isak does not necessarily mean no hope, but this needed to be a big team performance.
Without their star striker, who has 19 league goals this season to sit only behind Salah and Erling Haaland on the list of top scorers, Howe turned to Wilson.
The former Bournemouth forward has struggled for playing time this season, missing 20 league games because of long spells out with injury.
His lack of sharpness was evident when he had a one-on-one situation with Alisson and lofted a bold chipped effort wide.
Wilson's blushes were spared by the offside flag, but he blazed another opportunity off target 13 minutes later.
Newcastle's other attacking options did not offer much threat, either, with the Magpies failing to have a shot on target.
There will also be questions asked of Newcastle's defence, considering Szoboszlai and Mac Allister were left unmarked for their goals.
With a timescale for Isak's return unclear, the challenge of bringing Champions League football to St James' Park for next season could become even tougher.
Newcastle remain firmly in that mix for now and must push on from this disappointment.
With only six points separating third-placed Forest and Aston Villa in 10th, European places look set to go to teams that finish the season at a sprint.
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