With the sport sandwiched among legs of a Champions League semi-very last in opposition to Villarreal, Jurgen Klopp made five adjustments. The Reds may want to have made lifestyles less complicated for themselves had Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota now not ignored large possibilities to extend Liverpool's lead. However, Keita's arguable intention on 19 minutes was enough to move two factors beforehand of City, who can retake pinnacle spot after they travel to Leeds in a while Saturday.
Any slip by using Pep Guardiola's men and an unparalleled quadruple of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup would be just seven games away for the Reds. Klopp gave Liverpool fans even extra motive for birthday party by means of extending his contract at Anfield with the aid of years to 2026 on Thursday.
The German was courageous along with his group choice as he left Mohammed Salah, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold at the bench from the aspect that beat Villarreal 2-0 on Wednesday to position one foot in the Champions League final. Only Klopp's men have received extra Premier League points in 2022 than Newcastle for the reason that Magpies have been capable of begin splashing the coins of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. Eddie Howe's guys had gained their remaining six home games, however Liverpool confirmed their electricity in depth as even a much-modified crew controlled the sport.
Three of these introduced lower back into the crew had a primary function to play inside the simplest aim as James Milner snapped into a tackle on Fabian Schar. Newcastle have been furious no free-kick became given, but as Liverpool played on, Jota discovered Keita, who kept his cool to round Martin Dubravka and hearth into the unguarded net.
Dubravka went on to keep Newcastle in the game as the site visitors should have averted a nervy finale. Mane fired directly on the Slovakian from Luis Diaz's unselfish skip earlier than Dubravka tipped over Jota's towering header. The Senegalese then side-footed extensive a glorious hazard from Joe Gomez's cross after the spoil tons to Klopp's dismay.
The German used his big pleasant off the bench sending on Salah, Fabinho and Thiago have been brought inside the final area in a bid to seal the factors. Chances persevered to return and cross as Dubravka twice repelled effective efforts from Jota and flew off his line to smother from Salah. On the best activities Newcastle threatened, the offside flag could have come to Liverpool's rescue anyhow. Miguel Almiron had strayed properly past the final defender whilst he observed the internet within the first-half of, even as Chris Wood changed into additionally offside whilst he did not beat Alisson Becker one-on-one.
