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.