- A Jetro Willems thunderbolt gave Newcastle a surprise early lead against Liverpool at Anfield
- Jurgen Klopp’s men looked rusty but Sadio Mane hauled them level with a stunning strike of his own
- Mane then doubled his tally and put Liverpool ahead with a goal from close range in the first half
- Mohamed Salah then continued his excellent start to the season with a super finish in the second half
Sadio Mane masterminded a Liverpool comeback as Jurgen Klopp’s side chalked up a 14th consecutive Premier League win.
Mane, who threw a strop after being substituted in Liverpool’s previous game because Mo Salah wouldn’t pass to him, showed his finishing prowess with a quickfire double in the first half after Jetro Willems had given Newcastle a shock early lead.
Salah also got in the act with Liverpool’s third goal after the break to leave Klopp’s side undefeated at Anfield in the league since 2017 – a run of 43 games.
A Jetro Willems thunderbolt gave Newcastle a surprise early lead against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League
Adrian had no chance of keeping out the strike from Willems as Newcastle moved into the lead after only seven minutes
Willems was mobbed by his Newcastle team-mates as he celebrated in front of the travelling supporters at Anfield
Liverpool struggled for rhythm but Sadio Mane hauled his side level with a stunning strike of his own on 28 minutes
Like his opposite number, Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka had no chance of keeping Mane’s shot out
Mane celebrates alongside Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk after his stunning goal got their team level
They also remain top of the early Premier League table with the only 100 per cent record.
Mane and Salah were both in Klopp’s starting line-up despite the shenanigans at Burnley when Mane was demonstrably upset.
Instead, Roberto Firmino was on the bench with this fixture sandwiched between a Brazil friendly and Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Naples on Tuesday. Mane got the nod to take up his central position.
Newcastle has won their previous away game at Spurs with 19% possession and with seven injuries, Steve Bruce’s tactic of defending deep was little surprise.
What was unexpected however was the visitors scoring with their first break after seven minutes.
A lot of the credit was due to Christian Atsu who held the ball up and turned in the centre circle before releasing left wing-back Willems.
From there on, it was all the Dutchman’s work. A clever trick saw him cut inside Trent Alexander-Arnold and with the England defender struggling to get close enough again, he fired a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
It was Willems’ first Newcastle goal since joining on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt last month.
Divock Origi appeared to twist his ankle in the early stages of proceedings at Anfield on Saturday
But eventually, Origi was unable to continue and Roberto Firmino replaced him in the 37th minute of the match
Mane then got his second goal of the afternoon, latching onto a rebound after a one-on-one with Dubravka
Mane bundled the ball past Dubravka and converted from close range to put Liverpool ahead against Newcastle
Liverpool’s response in the autumn sunshine was initially patchy. Mane had a header wide and then teed up another close header for Divock Origi – but visitor’s ‘keeper Martin Dubravka wasn’t overworked.
It was Mane who came to the rescue with a brilliant equaliser after 28 minutes.
Andy Robertson broke down the left and slipped a pass into Mane who was hovering by the angle of the penalty area.
The African shuffled the ball inside and let rip with a shot into the corner as unstoppable as the earlier one from Willems had been.
Firmino had to interrupt his rest to replace Origi after 37 minutes, the Belgian never recovering from getting a kick by Miguel Almiron.
Two minutes later, Liverpool were ahead. Joel Matip dispossessed Atsu and Oxlade-Chamberlain seized on the loose ball to play in Mane.
The forward got a bit lucky when Dubravka’s initial block broke kindly to him but there was no doubting the love from The Kop as Mane tapped in his second goal. Even Salah jogged across to day Well Done.
Liverpool also felt they should have had a penalty when Joel Matip tussled with Jamaal Lascelles in the box but VAR didn’t feel the need to ask referee Andre Marriner to check his original decision of no foul.
Liverpool started the second half intent on trying to put the game to bed as quickly as possible. Gini Wijnaldum’s dipping half-volley landed on the roof of the net and Firmino tested Dubravka with a sharply-taken header.
Firmino then flicked a pass into the path of fans’ favourite Robertson who was just inches away from scoring his first goal of the season.
Liverpool boss Klopp erupts as Mane’s second gave his side the lead for the first time during the game
Mohamed Salah slotted home in the second half to continue his fine start to the season for Liverpool
Salah celebrates with team-mate Roberto Firmino, who assisted Liverpool’s third goal with a sumptuous flick
Salah had been quiet until that stage but he came to life just as The Kop started to sing his name after 72 minutes.
He played a pass into Firmino and then accelerated to receive a back-heeled return.
Fabian Schar fell over in his effort to stop the Liverpool man and Salah glided into the area before planting a low finish past Dubravka.
Game won, Klopp was able to make changes and give Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wijnaldum early breathers. Mane tapped in for what he hoped was for his hat-trick from Firmino’s pass but it was ruled out for an uncontested offside.
Never mind, it’s Napoli next for the European champions.
https://youtu.be/x12Y9clZh6Q
source:dailymail