Liverpool vs Newcastle United

Premier League 2018/19

Venue: Anfield

Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points with a Boxing Day stroll against Newcastle at Anfield.

Goals from Dejan Lovren, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho, along with Mo Salah's penalty gave the Reds a 4-0 win, as main title rivals Manchester City lost for the second game in a row, away to Leicester.

Results on Boxing Day mean Tottenham are now second behind Liverpool, with the Reds now favourites for the title.

Follow the game with Standard Sport's LIVE blog!

Live Updates

Read more...

Liverpool team news



Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to return after missing the last two matches with a foot injury.



Naby Keita is expected to resume training ahead of the game after sustaining a foot injury and bruised ribs at Wolves on Friday.



Centre-backs Joe Gomez (fractured leg) and Joel Matip (broken collarbone) remain sidelined for another three to four weeks.



Provisional squad: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Shaqiri, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Mignolet, Clyne, Lallana, Henderson, Keita, Milner, Sturridge, Origi. Newcastle team news



The Magpies will be without Ki Sung-yueng after he headed off to the Asian Cup. The Magpies will be without Ki Sung-yueng after he headed off to the Asian Cup.

Central midfielder Ki was required to meet up with the South Korea squad in Abu Dhabi ahead of next month's tournament by December 26 and with Jonjo Shelvey struggling to shake off a thigh injury, Isaac Hayden could come into contention.



Defender Ciaran Clark missed Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fulham because of an ankle problem, although Federico Fernandez was included among the substitutes after recovering from a calf injury, but keeper Karl Darlow (elbow) is still out.



Provisional squad: Dubravka, Woodman, Yedlin, Dummett, Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Schar, Diame, Hayden, Kenedy, Ritchie, Murphy, Atsu, Longstaff, Perez, Rondon, Joselu, Muto. ES COVERAGE Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport's coverage of the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Newcastle United!



We have David Lynch at Anfield today. He will be running you through the game's events. Advertisement When Manchester City won the league by a country mile last season, few thought it would be Liverpool that were four points clear at Christmas. Games like today's are the ones that have to become automatic wins if the Reds are to keep up the relentless pace they've set so far. But as we saw at the Etihad last weekend, things don't always work out like that. Photo: Reuters Jurgen Klopp was asked about the title race in his press conference over the weekend, and was rather coy. “I've told you all the time that we never think about City. Now we start thinking about City? That would be silly,” he said. Photo: Reuters “It's not interesting yet. We don't watch the table first thing in the morning or something like that. I didn't expect that City lose against Crystal Palace, of course not.

“But it was clear, like it can happen to us, it can happen to them, that's football, I'm too long in the business to know this can happen. Palace obviously deserved it in a specific way, three or four shots on target and I think City had a few more.

“We have December, nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing. We are focused so far always on the next game. That hasn't changed since Saturday." TACTICS Team news Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Salah, Mane, Firmino Subs: Mignolet, Clyne, Fabinho, Keita, Sturridge, Lallana, Origi Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Yedlin, Fernandez, Lascelles, Dummett, Ritchie, Diame, Hayden, Kenedy, Muto, Joselu Subs: Woodman, Manquillo, Schar, Longstaff, Murphy, Perez, Rondon Advertisement Trent returns Photo: Reuters Newcastle arrive on the back of a pretty favourable run of fixtures but they now face Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham in their next seven league games. Where are the points coming from then? Photo: PA It's a pretty big surprise to see Liverpool start with such a strong side today. Their other games over Christmas are against Arsenal and Man City, so is Jurgen Klopp going to try and go pretty much full strength for all three? Advertisement Five minutes to go... Photo: AP The players are in the tunnel at Anfield, and we're almost ready for this Boxing Day clash. KICK OFF KICK OFF! We are underway at Anfield... Advertisement 2 mins: Cracking reception for Rafa Benitez, add you'd expect, on his return to the club where he won the Champions League in 2005. 3 mins: An early worry for Newcastle here, because the skipper Jamal Lascelles is down but I think it's just a little bump and he'll be fine. ES COVERAGE David Lynch is at Anfield for Standard Sport Newcastle lining up in a 5-3-2 formation here and already the pattern of the game is set. Liverpool are being asked to break down that defensive wall while their opponents are eyeing up counters and set-pieces. Advertisement 8 mins: Newcastle will be pretty pleased with their start here, Matt Ritchie in particular finding some nice pockets of space and he curls a lovely cross into the back post that Joselu heads just wide. GOAL | Liverpool 1-0 Newcastle | Dejan Lovren 11' GOAL! 11 mins: What a hit! Dejan Lovren is the unlikely scorer, and with a sensational finish, lashes into the top corner on the half volley after Robertson's cross wasn't cleared. Advertisement 14 mins: It's been all Liverpool since the goal and Mo Salah looks menacing. ES COVERAGE David Lynch is at Anfield I'm not sure Dejan Lovren would've topped many people's lists of Liverpool players likely to fire a controlled half-volley into the roof of the net, but that's exactly what he's just done. It's a poor defensive header from Jamaal Lascelles that gives him the chance but what a finish from the Croatian. Next

Can’t see the blog? Click here to access our desktop page.

Team news

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Firmino, Mane, Salah

Subs: Clyne, Fabinho, Keita, Sturridge, Lallana, Mignolet, Origi

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Diame, Kenedy, Muto, Joselu

Subs: Schar, Murphy, Rondon, Perez, Manquillo, Longstaff, Woodman

Referee: Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)