A gift for Liverpool!

Paul Dummett tugs at Mohamed Salah's shirt as the Liverpool man glides his way into Newcastle's penalty area.

Referee Graham Scott pauses for one moment and then points to the spot.

Rafa Benitez is livid!

Gary Barlow of Take That fame is at Anfield.

Are Liverpool 'Back For Good'?

We're back under way!

Image source, BBC Sport

Don't get carried away, Liverpool fans. But that's a promising table for those of a red persuasion.

Work to do in the second half for Manchester City, while Spurs are purring along nicely...

Jason: There is a long way to go if I was a Liverpool fan I’d be praying Van Dijk does not get injured!! If Liverpool keep him and front three fit I think it’s their year. MUFC fan.

Rizwan: The advantage Liverpool have over City in the title race is their superior defence.

Uday: Dare I feel it... Newcastle could still be in the game if Rondon comes on for the 2nd half.

Liverpool are winning and Manchester City are drawing!

It's a super free-kick by Xherdan Shaqiri but Martin Dubravka is equal to it and tips it over his bar.

Great save by the Newcastle keeper.

Image source, AFP

This game started at a blistering pace but it's settled down with Newcastle defending in numbers to limit chances for the home side.

Mohamed Diame fouls Georginio Wijnaldum just outside the box.

Big chance for Liverpool!

Sadio Mane wins a free-kick after a foul by Isaac Hayden.

It's about 35 yards out and it ends with Mohamed Diame firing a clearance into The Kop to stop Virgil van Dijk from lashing in a second Liverpool goal.

Loser92: Come on you Champagne Scousers! We’re gonna win the league, we’re gonna win the league, and now you better believe us...

Kolo: Dejan Lovren Bullet. Wow Easily a BOOOOOOOOM animation from Klopp.

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool haven’t lost a home league game on Boxing Day since 1986.

They've still only had one attempt on target yet they have the all-important lead.

The game has gone a little flat and has been sprinkled with lots of niggly challenges and free-kicks.

Half an hour on the clock!

Liverpool have the lead and are pretty much in control but Newcastle are not sitting back.

You get the feeling there are more goals to come.

Image source, AFP

Kenedy in loads of space outside the Liverpool penalty area finds DeAndre Yedlin who fires in a cross which Alisson plucks from the air with considerable ease.

With Manchester City being held at Leicester, Liverpool are SIX points clear at the top as it stands.

Newcastle fans are singing Rafa Benitez's name and there's more than a few Liverpool fans joining in.

Meanwhile, Matt Ritchie continues to whip some inviting crosses into the Liverpool penalty area. This is a decent game.

Image source, Reuters

A sumptuous lift by Roberto Firmino sets up a chance for Sadio Mane but the ball just runs clear and Martin Dubravka is able to save.

Leicester have equalised against Manchester City!

Going back to that Joselu miss before Liverpool took the lead...how costly could that prove?

Image source, Reuters

Moments before taking the lead, Xherdan Shaqiri wasted a good chance when he shot wide.

Lovren's early strike has settled any nerves in the crowd.

Manchester City have also taken the lead at Leicester so the Reds remain four points clear in the 'as it stands' table.

Joselu has a golden chance to open the scoring but misses!

It's a peach of a cross by Matt Ritchie to the Spaniard but his downward header is poor.

Newcastle have got to take those chances!

Image source, Reuters

Rafa Benitez will be pleased with the way his side have started.

Newcastle are enjoying a fair chunk of early possession.

This is pretty much a free hit for the Magpies and they're having a go.

Image source, Reuters