Liverpool keep pressure on Man City with 1-0 win at Newcastle

NEWCASTLE, England : A first-half strike from midfielder Naby Keita helped Liverpool secure a hard-earned 1-0 win at Newcastle United on Saturday as Juergen Klopp's side kept their Premier League title hopes alive and provisionally went top of the table.

The victory put Liverpool two points ahead of champions Manchester City, who can regain first spot with a win at Leeds United later on Saturday. Newcastle are ninth on 43 points.

"It's the most difficult of circumstances. A team in form, a crowd waiting for ages for proper success," said Klopp. "Our people were outstanding and Newcastle are obviously a really passionate crowd. Winning here is special."

After an early half-chance for Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool hit the front in the 19th minute through Keita when he cleverly dribbled past Martin Dubravka to slot home following a smart link-up with Diogo Jota.

The goal was met with furious protests by Newcastle players who reckoned James Milner had fouled Fabian Schar in the build-up but the VAR allowed the effort to stand.

Liverpool, with possibly one eye on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Villarreal on Tuesday, started without Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold but their absence was seldom felt as the visitors were barely troubled in the opening exchanges.

Sadio Mane had a glorious chance to double Liverpool's lead from a counter-attack but the Senegal forward's side-footed effort was comfortably kept out by Dubravka, who was called into action again when he tipped over Jota's 41st-minute header.

With Liverpool dominating possession, Newcastle's best moment of the half arrived when Miguel Almiron had the ball in the net after being played through by Bruno Guimaraes, only for the