A comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, has taken Liverpool to what will surely be an insurmountable 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Yet, Arne Slott may be a little angry with his team’s second half display.
Two changes to the starting 11 from the weekend made no difference to Liverpool’s fluidity. Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas replacing Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones and, with Isak missing for the visitors, Slot’s men may have felt one-up before the game even started. They were actually one-up on the quarter-hour, man of the match Szoboszlai finishing with his left foot from inside the penalty box. It was a lead that their dominance warranted and the Hungarian should perhaps have clinched a brace before half-time. This time, set up by Jota, his first time shot was wide of the upright. Newcastle, meanwhile, where relying on a clearly rusty Wilson up front, who shot horribly wide when presented with his one opportunity, and Liverpool’s lead never looked likely to be over turned.
The second period took a full 15 minutes to properly begin. Injuries, sloppy football by both teams, along with a whistle happy referee, never allowed either team to build momentum. When Liverpool did get the ball down and play, they soon doubled their lead. This time it was Mac Allister, assisted by Salah, who found the net in front of the Kop as, once again, Newcastle failed to mark in the penalty box.
Mo Salah, though failing to score, could easily have had a hat-trick of assists. His pass with the outside of his left foot, to an onrushing Luis Diaz was sublime. The Colombian just unable to stretch far enough at the back post to do justice to the world class pass. Other opportunities to plant a significant seed of doubt in the heads of Magpies, in advance of the league cup final, were spurned. In fact, at times, Liverpool were a little complacent in possession and perhaps guilty of trying to score the perfect goal rather than ensuring a third, which would have put any last minute nerves to one side. Slot might just remind his players that scoring is what matters most, not how you score.
Jittery and unsure of themselves against Wolves a week ago, but against Newcastle there was no sign of that. Liverpool never really gave the visitors a sniff, with Alisson never having a save to make. Slot and his squad now have a much-needed week off ahead of a trip to Paris to face PSG, before they resume their league campaign against bottom club Southampton at Anfield. It would be the shock of what has been a near floor less league season, if Liverpool fail to take all three points in that fixture. Surely only complacency can stop them now.
