LIVERPOOL: Liverpool took another giant stride toward the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Newcastle to move 13 points clear at the top of the table on Wednesday.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were on target either side of half-time as the Reds further stretched their advantage after Arsenal were earlier held 0-0 at Nottingham Forest.
Unbeaten in 24 league games, Liverpool are cruising toward a record-equalling 20th English top flight title but just their second in 35 years.
Defeat leaves Newcastle down in sixth, three points adrift of the top four.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot had to make do with a seat in the stands after being handed a two-match touchline ban for his red card in a fiery Merseyside derby at Everton earlier this month.
With Slot’s assistant Sipke Hulshoff also banned, it was another member of his coaching staff — former Everton defender — Johnny Heitinga who patrolled the touchline.
Newcastle were dealt a huge blow before a ball was kicked as 21-goal top scorer Alexander Isak was ruled out due to a groin injury.
The Anfield crowd were in a mood to party after their side secured a statement 2-0 win at Manchester City on Sunday.
And they were given plenty of reason to remain in good voice.
It took the home side just 11 minutes to go in front when the lively Luis Diaz cut the ball back for Szoboszlai to roll in, although questions will be asked over Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope’s poor attempt to keep it out.
The sides will meet again in the League Cup final on March 16.
Despite a third defeat in four league games, there was some encouragement for the Magpies looking ahead to Wembley, especially if Isak is back fit.
The Swede’s stand-in Callum Wilson had a huge chance to equalize when he timed his run in behind Ibrahima Konate, only to slice his finish well wide.
Szoboszlai was inches away from a spectacular second when his curling effort from the edge of the area drifted just wide.
Once Liverpool did get the second just after the hour mark, there was never any doubt over the outcome.
Mohamed Salah’s eight-game scoring streak finally came to an end, but he did still have a telling contribution with his 22nd assist of the season.
The Egyptian sucked in three Newcastle defenders before dishing the ball out to Mac Allister who fired high into Pope’s top right-hand corner.
At the end of a draining run of five Premier League games in 15 days, Slot’s men were able to ease to another vital three points in the final 30 minutes.
Pope was spared a second embarrassment when he fumbled at a corner and Virgil van Dijk had a goal ruled out for a foul by Konate.
The Liverpool fans struck up multiple choruses of “we’re going to win the league” in the closing stages.
Even in the closing days of February, little doubt remains as who will be crowned champions in May, if not before then.
Liverpool 13 points clear in Premier League after Newcastle win
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Liverpool 13 points clear in Premier League after Newcastle win
World No. 5 Elena Rybakina to headline strong field at 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
- The 2022 Wimbledon champion joins defending champion Belinda Bencic and Spanish favorite Paula Badosa for the event from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7
- Rising stars Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala continue breakthrough journeys at WTA 500 platform
ABU DHABI: One of the strongest fields in its history has been unveiled for this year’s Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion and world No. 5 Elena Rybakina will head an exciting line-up featuring Grand Slam winners, Olympic medalists and the sport’s most exciting rising stars when the WTA 500 tournament returns to the International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7.
The Kazakh powerhouse, who won the tournament in 2024, has established herself as one of the game’s elite competitors. Since her triumph at Wimbledon, she has reached the 2023 Australian Open final and secured multiple WTA 500 and 1000 titles, including the 2025 WTA Finals Riyadh where she brushed aside World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
“I really enjoyed my time in Abu Dhabi last year,” said Rybakina, who was defeated in the semi-finals by Bencic. “The city’s support for tennis is amazing, and reaching the semifinals was a solid way to begin 2025. This year, I’m coming back with the goal of going all the way again. The competition will be fierce, but that’s what makes it exciting.”
Rybakina will be joined by Belinda Bencic, who returns to defend her unbeaten record at the event. The Swiss Olympic gold medalist has lifted the trophy in both 2023 and 2025 and remains the only player never to have lost a match at the tournament.
Spanish favorite Paula Badosa adds further depth to the elite contingent. A former world No. 2 and Indian Wells champion, Badosa brings explosive power and fierce competitiveness to a field that promises compelling matches throughout the week.
The tournament’s commitment to the next generation is underlined by the confirmation of two of 2025’s most compelling breakthrough stars. Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko, who rocketed from outside the world’s top 300 at the start of 2025 to inside the top 20 following titles in Montreal and Hong Kong, continues her remarkable rise on the WTA Tour.
Joining her is Filipina star Alexandra Eala, who returns to Abu Dhabi following her 2024 debut. The 20-year-old former US Open girls’ champion has continued her steady climb through the rankings and remains the highest-ranked Filipino player in tour history.
Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova, a multiple Grand Slam champion in both singles and doubles, and Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, bring proven track records while American rising star Emma Navarro, Denmark’s Clara Tauson and Canada’s Leylah Fernandez — the 2023 French Open finalist — add further depth to an already formidable lineup.
The field also features former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who captured the 2025 doubles title in Abu Dhabi alongside Ellen Perez. Chinese star Qinwen Zheng, Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska and 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin round out a top 20 that promises world-class tennis from the opening qualifiers through to the championship weekend.
Further elite talent includes Ekaterina Alexandrova and Liudmila Samsonova, Belgium’s Elise Mertens, Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, American McCartney Kessler and Australian Maya Joint.
Nigel Gupta, MARI tournament director, said: “The 2026 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open field represents everything this tournament has become — a compelling blend of Grand Slam champions, Olympic medalists and the sport’s most exciting emerging talent. Elena Rybakina’s arrival as our top seed adds tremendous star power, while Belinda’s pursuit of a third title and the inclusion of breakthrough stars like Victoria Mboko and Alexandra Eala demonstrate our commitment to showcasing both today’s champions and tomorrow’s legends. This is shaping up to be our strongest edition yet.”
