Liverpool breathed life into their top-four hopes with a 2-0 win over fourth-placed Newcastle United, which noticed Nick Pope despatched off to rule them out of the EFL Cup remaining.

Newcastle had solely misplaced as soon as, to the Reds final April, at St James’ Park within the league within the final 12 months, however they had been undone on Saturday because of medical ending on the guests.

Darwin Núñez’s first Premier League aim since November put Liverpool forward earlier than Cody Gakpo netted for the second successive sport, nevertheless it wasn’t till Nick Pope’s Twenty second-minute dismissal that Newcastle regarded doomed.

Even then, Eddie Howe’s males coped nicely with the deficit and had probabilities to chop the arrears, however the crossbar and Alisson saved them at bay as Liverpool moved inside six factors of the highest 4.

Three large factors alongside the way in which #NEWLIV pic.twitter.com/typPxsawsx

—Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 18, 2023

Newcastle began brilliantly however fell behind on 10 minutes, Nunez beating Pope after exquisitely bringing down Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross.

It was 2-0 shortly after.

One other divine cross, this time from Mohamed Salah, opened up the Newcastle protection to seek out Gakpo, who stabbed Pope.

Issues rapidly took a flip for the more severe for Newcastle when Pope ran out of his field and fell on the ball hands-first, incomes him a straight pink.

Newcastle responded nicely, practically pulling one again twice when Allan Saint-Maximin and Dan Burn hit the bar.

However Liverpool got here into half-time unscathed, conceding little within the second half.

Nonetheless, Callum Wilson ought to have halved the deficit late on, failing to beat Alisson one-on-one because the Brazilian saved a clear sheet.

What does it imply? The race for the Champions League heats up

Not too way back, many had been contemplating Newcastle’s Champions League certainties whereas writing off Liverpool for the highest 4 completely.

The Reds nonetheless have a protracted solution to go, notably given how inconsistent they have been this season, however Newcastle’s current bother needs to be an enormous increase.

If Liverpool win their sport subsequent weekend, they are going to be simply three factors behind Newcastle. Hardly impregnable.

Saint-Maximin provides so much

If there was a Newcastle participant to encourage one thing on Saturday, it will be Saint-Maximin.

The Frenchman was a standard thread always, his carrying capability relieved the stress on quite a few events and even opened up alternatives. He had a team-high three photographs and two key passes, bettered solely by Kieran Trippier (5) amongst Newcastle gamers.

Alisson does her half

Newcastle did nicely and if it wasn’t for Alisson’s efficiency, the house workforce in all probability would have scored no less than as soon as.

The Brazil worldwide made 4 saves in all, together with Saint-Maximin’s shot off the crossbar and irritating Wilson in direction of the tip.

Opta Key Details

– Newcastle are winless of their final 13 Premier League conferences with Liverpool (D4 L9) since a 2-0 house win in December 2015 below Steve McClaren.

– For the primary time within the historical past of their league, Liverpool have prevented defeat on six successive visits to St James’ Park (W4 D2).

– Liverpool ended a three-match dropping streak on the street within the Premier League, preserving a clear sheet away from house for the second time this season (0-0 to Everton in September).

– Newcastle conceded as many targets within the first 17 minutes of this sport as they’ve of their earlier eight Premier League video games mixed (two).

– Pope’s pink card was the fifth time a Newcastle goalkeeper had been despatched off within the Premier League, with solely Liverpool and Aston Villa (six every) seeing extra ‘goalkeepers pink’ within the competitors.

Whats Subsequent?

Liverpool are in Champions League motion at house to Actual Madrid on Tuesday earlier than heading to Crystal Palace within the Premier League 4 days later. Newcastle now flip their consideration to the EFL Cup remaining towards Manchester United subsequent Sunday.