David Thompson
Former Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

Newcastle will have to come out a little bit in the second half. They've only had one shot on goal, they've been poor.

I don't see them getting back in the game unless they change their shape.

The visitors can't fashion anything from the resulting corner and that's half-time.

A pretty lifeless affair until Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scythed his way through the Newcastle defence to set up the irrepressible Mo Salah.

Out of nowhere!

Newcastle finally stitch a good attacking move together and Mohamed Diame races onto the ball and cracks a superb curving shot towards the top left corner.

But Liverpool keeper Loris Karius is equal to it, diving high to his right to tip the ball over the bar.

Smart keeping - he's had nothing else to do all game. Corner to Newcastle...

Right, what can Newcastle muster before the break?

Dwight Gayle comes forward but his pass is loose and Kenedy has to retreat.

Here the visitors come again though...

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Strange to say but Salah almost mucked that one up as he managed to hit Dubravka with his strike on its way in.

Can't argue with the stats though - that is Salah's 24th Premier League goal of the season. Immense.

What do Newcastle do from here? Plan A of sitting back has failed on 40 minutes.

CM: Mo Salah scores. In other news water is wet and ice is cold.

David Thompson
Former Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

It was getting to the point where it was getting a little subdued.

All credit to the Ox, he drove right at the heart of Newcastle and made the space for Salah. He was clinical. He learned from his mistake before, he wasn't going to make it twice.

David Thompson
Former Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

Not since the days of Neil Ruddock have I seen a player strike a ball like Virgil van Dijk.

The money Liverpool paid for him will be cheap next year because the World Cup will elevate players even more.

Mo Salah gathers trying to turn towards goal but Florian Lejeuene trips him from behind.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain curves the free-kick towards the back post, the ball bounces around the box before Kenedy clears for Newcastle.

Virgil van Dijk spreads a fine long pass for Andrew Robertson to burst onto but the left-back's first touch with his head is too heavy and it's a goal-kick to Newcastle.

Image source, Reuters

David Thompson
Former Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

I don't think Jurgen Klopp will be concerned with this half so far but he would have expected a bit more from his team.

These weather conditions can dampen enthusiasm but Liverpool have to be a bit more professional in the second half.

Image source, Getty Images

Shaky from Martin Dubravka.

Newcastle concede another corner from the first, this time the ball is zipped across the six-yard box and the visiting keeper flails at it but misses.

Fortunately for him and Newcastle the ball evades everyone else too.

Paul Dummett is the latest Newcastle defender to stick nobly to his task, track his man and prevent the cross as Mo Salah's pass is deflected out for a corner.

Image source, PA

Here is Klopp - the Liverpool manager is out and talking to the fourth official.

Dwight Gayle gets in behind out by the left-hand edge of Liverpool's area but has no support and his cross is high and wide anyway.

David Thompson
Former Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

You normally see Jurgen Klopp out of the dugout, energetically walking around the technical area.

Perhaps the reason he's sat down observing so much is a reflection of the way Liverpool are playing today.

Matthew Mand: Looks like Rafa has read the Jose Mourinho book of bus parking from cover to cover.

A rare attack for Newcastle ends in Dwight Gayle clattering an ambitious strike well over the bar.