Liverpool came from behind to defeat Newcastle United at a raucous Anfield. Arne Slot’s side had not won in 2026, a run of five Premier League games. After losing at Bournemouth last weekend, they seemed to be sliding back to their grim form of the autumn. This performance, inspired by Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, has lifted the mood on Merseyside.
For the first 30 minutes, though, an anxious home crowd appeared to be witnessing another disappointing performance. Newcastle began the game brilliantly, launching a series of rapid attacks. Harvey Barnes had already hit the post from a cleverly worked free kick when Newcastle took the lead, Anthony Gordon shooting low under Milos Kerkez’s challenge and past Alisson.
Liverpool levelled just five minutes later, when Wirtz glided away from challenges and set up Ekitike for a sharp finish.
Two minutes later and Liverpool had the lead. Kerkez played a brilliant pass from deep in the Liverpool half to allow Ekitike to take on Malick Thiaw. The French striker used his pace to find just enough space and then toe-poked an early shot past Nick Pope in the Newcastle goal.
Throughout an entertaining second half, both teams continued to take the game to each other. It was Wirtz, again, who made the difference, with a precise low finish from Mohamed Salah’s assist taking the game out of Newcastle’s reach.
There was still time for an emotional finale, with Ibrahima Konate poking in the fourth goal and being mobbed by his team-mates.
Here, James Pearce, George Caulkin and Chris Waugh run through the key talking points for Liverpool and Newcastle.
Hugo Ekitike’s magic two minutes
Liverpool were in trouble. Stunned by Gordon’s opener, a growing sense of anxiety inside Anfield had turned to anger and disbelief. Yet again, they had conceded to an opponent’s first attempt on goal.
With Slot’s side in desperate need of a lift as half-time approached, up stepped Ekitike. He has proved a big hit at Anfield since completing a £79million ($108m) move from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer and on Saturday, he strengthened that bond with his heroics.
In the build-up, he had talked about having no regrets over turning down Newcastle before opting to sign for Liverpool, with Eddie Howe admitting he was a huge admirer of a striker he had twice previously tried to purchase.
And Ekitike showed Howe what he’s missing as he scored twice in the space of two minutes just before the break to transform the mood inside Anfield.
First, he produced a clinical finish at the near post after fine work from Wirtz. Their growing understanding is a big asset for Slot as he tries to salvage something from this difficult campaign.
Hugo Ekitike scoring his second against Newcastle (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Ekitike’s second goal was reminiscent of former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres in his prime. Latching on to Kerkez’s inviting pass down the left flank, Ekitike showcased his pace and power as he burst goalwards and then unleashed an unstoppable drive beyond Pope.
When Liverpool broke their transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for £125million on deadline day, it looked like Ekitike would be playing second fiddle at Anfield.
But with Isak’s season wrecked by injury, Ekitike has stepped up brilliantly. He clearly relishes the responsibility of leading the line and boasts 15 goals in all competitions.
James Pearce
How did Anthony Gordon perform as a false 9?
Gordon was at the forefront of Newcastle’s vivid and adventurous first-half performance, adjectives which have rarely been deployed to describe their away form this season.
For the second game in succession, Howe confounded observers with his team selection, choosing an XI which did not feature a recognised striker.
Against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, Howe had not started either Gordon or Harvey Barnes, who have mustered 11 goals between them in the Champions League.
At Anfield, both wingers began the game, with Gordon playing as a false 9 and with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa on the substitutes’ bench. It was a tactical switch which caused Liverpool problems and they struggled to contain Gordon’s pace and aggressive pressing.
There was a nervy moment when Gordon was booked for a late challenge on Alisson Becker — shades of his dismissal for a similar tackle on Virgil van Dijk at St James’ Park in August — but he relished his role as pantomime villain against the team he supported as a boy.
His 36th minute goal was a fine one, Joe Willock breaking down the left, playing in Barnes and the ball drifting to Gordon on the right. His shot, driven across goal, was expertly converted; it was his first from open play in the Premier League since January last year but his 10th of the season in all competitions.
Anthony Gordon fires in Newcastle’s opener (Kate McShane/Getty Images)
Gordon had begun the season in this position, deputising up front while Alexander Isak — then still a Newcastle player –—refused to train and play for Howe’s team. He offers something; speed, directness, nuisance value. The key is finding consistency.
George Caulkin
Ibrahima Konate’s emotional return
Liverpool’s defensive options have been decimated.
With Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley suffering season-ending knee injuries, Slot then lost Joe Gomez (hip) and Jeremie Frimpong (groin). Ibrahima Konate’s absence on compassionate leave following the death of his father has also been keenly felt.
It meant that Ryan Gravenberch had to fill in as a makeshift centre-back against Qarabag in the Champions League in midweek with midfielder Wataru Endo spending most of the night at right-back.
Konate’s return to training on Thursday provided a welcome lift and the sight of him restored to the line up alongside captain Virgil van Dijk gave Slot’s backline a more familiar look against Newcastle.
It’s been a difficult season for the former RB Leipzig defender with ongoing speculation over his future as he approaches the end of his contract this summer. Talks have so far failed to reach a compromise.
Konate’s form before Christmas was patchy with a number of careless errors leading to goals. But he was much improved prior to his recent spell back in France with his family and his performance against Newcastle was arguably his best of the campaign, especially given that he had only had two days training after nearly a fortnight away.
Time and time again, Konate was in the right place at the right time to deal with danger. He won his aerial battles, timed his tackles perfectly and used his physicality to ensure that Howe’s side never seriously threatened to stage a second-half comeback.
Anfield showed its appreciation with the regular chants of ‘Ibou’. How fitting that Konate added the fourth goal late on as he bundled the ball home after a corner dropped to his feet.
The tears flowed as he was mobbed by his team-mates. After such a tough time, he was magnificent.
James Pearce
Did Eddie Howe’s striker-less tactic work?
For the first time all season, Howe had three out-and-out strikers in a matchday squad — and yet none in his starting XI.
Instead, Howe went for raw pace, fielding Gordon as a false nine, with Harvey Barnes as a roaming left-winger who regularly cut inside, and Anthony Elanga down the right. During the first half, Newcastle’s relentless pressing, led by Gordon and supported ably by his team-mates, disrupted Liverpool, while the visitors also created openings with swift attacks.
If anything, momentum had already started to shift Liverpool’s way by the time Gordon opened the second in the 36th minute but, even though they went in at half-time behind, Newcastle came out after the break and continued to be brave, even if the clear-cut chances became more scarce. Once Howe introduced Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, and then latterly Will Osula, Newcastle actually became less of a threat, albeit they were already 3-1 down at that stage.
Ultimately, despite the promising signs this offensive set-up showed in Paris and Liverpool, suggesting it could be a better option on the road for Howe’s side, Newcastle have still lost both games.
This makes it 16 points dropped from winning positions in the Premier League, the third-most in the top flight, while Newcastle have kept just three clean sheets in 21 games across all competitions. Their record in games against the top six so far this season has also see them claim only five points from a possible 24, too.
Down in 10th, six points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, Newcastle really do face a fight to get themselves back in the Champions League.
Chris Waugh
What did Slot say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What did Howe say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Liverpool?
Sunday, February 8: Manchester City (Home), Premier League, 4.30pm UK, 11.30am ET
What next for Newcastle?
Wednesday, February 4: Manchester City (Away), Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, 8pm UK, 3pm ET