Liverpool kicked off 2024 with a six-goal thriller against Newcastle.
Mohamed Salah saw a penalty effort saved by Martin Dubravka midway through the first half after Sven Botman had tripped Luis Diaz in the area.
But the Egyptian later redeemed himself just five minutes after the interval by breaking the deadlock with a close-range finish from Darwin Nunez’s pass.
The Reds’ lead lasted just four minutes as Alexander Isak restored parity for the visitors by equalising past Alisson after Anthony Gordon’s through ball.
Jurgen Klopp’s side would retake their lead in the final quarter when Salah and Diogo Jota combined to tee up Curtis Jones to fire into an empty net.
Cody Gakpo added a third for the hosts in the closing stages by beating the’ offside trap to meet Salah’s swirling right-sided cross unmarked and score.
The Magpies produced a swift response as Botman headed home a reducer unchallenged in front of The Kop to set up a potentially nervy finale.
Salah, however, would enjoy the last laugh with another penalty after Dubravka had hauled down Jota; sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Salah exits on his own terms
Mohamed Salah’s final Liverpool outing before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations was always going to be momentous under any circumstances.
But not even the Egyptian could have foreseen himself departing a rain-lashed Anfield at full time after one of his most complete performances.
Two goals, one assist and a missed penalty told only half the story of Salah’s influence for Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead of his looming international hiatus.
The 31-year-old departs for the tournament in the Ivory Coast with the rest of the Premier League trailing in his wake after amassing 22 goal involvements.
No player has scored or assisted more than Salah after 20 top-flight games and his absence will undoubtedly be felt far beyond those key contributions.
Salah’s on-field presence provides the Reds with a dynamism which is often sorely lacking on the rare occasions that he fails to make their starting XI.
To little surprise, he bowed out on those exact terms against Newcastle.
…but Reds are still well covered
It’s not just Salah whose departure will be keenly felt over the coming month.
Wataru Endo’s displays in recent weeks have become an invaluable asset during Alexis Mac Allister’s respective injury and acclimatisation issues.
The Japan captain, too, is set to miss a significant period of the early second half of the season on account of his involvement in the upcoming Asian Cup.
Imperious though he has been, Liverpool can at least point to a more than able supporting cast with Mac Allister announcing himself back in the fold.
After shaking last month’s painful-looking knee injury at Sheffield United, the World Cup winner was handed a cameo return in place of Endo as the no.6.
An incisive pass that saw fellow substitute Diogo Jota earn the evening’s second penalty typified the qualities which Mac Allister will bring to the table.
Beyond the 25-year-old’s comeback, Klopp is also able to draw upon further alternatives capable of stepping in to cover the Salah shortfall in his attack.
Luis Diaz resembled something close to peak form while Jota’s appearance off the bench, similarly, offered hopes that is also getting back to his best.
The Liverpool manager might sleep a little more soundly knowing that the temporary loss of his leading lights will be supplemented in the short-term.
‘Mentality monsters’ turn xG masters
Klopp has never shied away from lavishing praise on Liverpool’s squad.
‘Mentality monsters’ is the catch-all term that the German leaned on when seeking to articulate the ceiling which his charges coninue to possess.
Fortitude alone, however, no longer defines Anfield’s current crop as their output against the Magpies attested by peppering Martin Dubravka’s goal.
A total of 34 attempts, 15 of them on target, were sent the visitors’ way across both halves to produce a Premier League record for expected goals (xG).
Their projected haul of 7.27 is now a benchmark for the highest figure produced in any top-flight fixture since the metric was introduced in 2012.
Had Darwin Nunez proved more adept in front of goal, Liverpool may have covered more ground of their xG quota than the mere four goals on Monday.
Still, the fact they are producing such a high volume of chances augurs well for a title race which sees them still leading the pack at the start of 2024.