Liverpool’s day began under a cloud with news of Mamadou Sakho’s failed drugs test and a stirring, potentially crucial fightback by Newcastle United ensured they stayed there. Papiss Cissé and Jack Colback scored as Rafael Benítez’s relegation-threatened team came from two goals down to collect their first away point since 13 December.
Benítez had asked his former club for a favour in his quest to preserve Newcastle’s Premier League status and ex-Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet obliged. Liverpool were coasting at the interval to a fifth straight win in all competitions but Mignolet’s mistake allowed Cissé to inject some optimism into the visitors and they took advantage to close the gap on Norwich City to one point.
Sakho sat in an executive box with his family as Liverpool eased into a two-goal lead in the first half. Any hopes Newcastle harboured of two encouraging displays at St James’ Park translating into improvement on the road were put on hold after 58 seconds. That was all the time it took for Daniel Sturridge to reassure Anfield in the absence of the injured Divock Origi and score his seventh goal in his last seven starts against Newcastle.
Benítez was warmly serenaded by the Kop on his return to Anfield – it was not so easy last time he was in the opposition dugout as Chelsea’s interim manager – and he had just reciprocated with a wave when Liverpool were awarded a free-kick on the half-way line. Klopp’s team had gone long and early with two balls into the Newcastle area from the kick-off and the reason why was underlined from Alberto Moreno’s set piece. Sturridge had two defenders on his shoulders as Moreno’s ball dropped on the edge of the penalty area yet he was given space to control neatly, turn sharpy and stroke a clinical left-foot finish into Karl Darlow’s bottom left-hand corner.
The visitors’ gameplan to contain Liverpool with a 4-1-4-1 formation was damaged before it had been executed. Newcastle lacked the aggression or the confidence to react positively in the first half, their performance was far removed from Tuesday’s committed show at home to Manchester City, and Liverpool inflicted further punishment on their passive opponent after 30 minutes. It was another fine goal, albeit this time from a team perspective.
Dejan Lovren found Roberto Firmino in space and the stylish Brazilian released Moreno down the left wing. Liverpool’s left-back produced his second assist of the game by picking out the unmarked Adam Lallana in the centre. From 20 yards, the midfielder swept a stunning finish into the top corner and three more points beckoned.
Liverpool’s latest commanding display was not the only reason to suspect the contest was over. Their only concerns of the first half were slight knocks to Moreno and Lovren, neither serious, and referee Andre Marriner’s refusal to award a penalty for handball. Marriner was a late replacement for Martin Atkinson who reportedly suffered an injury on a Uefa fitness course. Newcastle had offered nothing, which made their second half fightback all the more surprising and, for Klopp, galling.
Benítez’s side were gifted a lifeline shortly after the restart when Vurnon Anita broke down the right and crossed deep into the Liverpool six-yard box. Mignolet rushed from his line but his fists made no contact with the ball, only with the unfortunate Lovren, and Cissé headed into the unguarded goal.
Cissé should have levelled and left Anfield enraged when Sturridge was denied a penalty after appearing to be clipped inside the area. Marriner waved play on, Newcastle broke through Moussa Sissoko and the captain put the Senegal international clear on goal. The striker wanted too long on the ball, however, and could only pass back to Andros Townsend who blazed high into the Kop.
Firmino tapped in from close range after Darlow saved from Joe Allen’s header but an offside flag came to Newcastle’s rescue. They capitalised from another attack down the Liverpool left. This time Townsend centred into the heart of the home penalty area and, though Cissé could not connect with a clean header, the ball dropped for Colback to score his first away goal in over two years via a deflection off Lovren.