Liverpool continued their charge towards the Premier League title as a 2-0 win over Newcastle put them 13 points clear at the top of the table.
On an evening when second-placed Arsenal dropped points in a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest, Arne Slot’s side took full advantage at Anfield.
Slot, beginning his two-game touchline ban, watched from the stands as Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a scuffed strike past Nick Pope.
Alexis Mac Allister added to the jubilant atmosphere in the second half, with chants of “We’re going to win the league” heard from the Kop after the Argentine swept Mohamed Salah’s pass high into the left corner.
The visitors lacked a clinical edge up front. Alexander Isak, their top scorer this season, was absent because of a groin injury.
Callum Wilson deputised for the in-form Sweden striker, but he skewed a clear-cut effort wide in the first half after being handed his first league start of the campaign.
Newcastle sit sixth after finishing this game empty-handed – three points behind Manchester City in fourth and a guaranteed spot in next season’s Champions League.
However, Eddie Howe’s team can gain revenge against Liverpool when they meet again at Wembley in the final of the Carabao Cup on 16 March.