Naby Keïta downs Newcastle as Liverpool up tempo in title race

It is not so long ago that Jürgen Klopp allowed Eddie Howe access all areas at Anfield as he permitted a then out-of-work colleague to shadow virtually his every move.

Liverpool’s manager had perhaps not bargained for Howe subsequently poaching one of his key analysts, Mark Leyland, as soon as he took charge of Newcastle – or breathing so much new life into Steve Bruce’s old side that this lunchtime kick off in the Tyneside sunshine represented an unexpected threat to the Merseysiders’ title chances.

In reality it was not quite as tight as the scoreline might suggest, but a refreshed Liverpool XI, watched by the initially benched Mo Salah and Thiago Alcântara, were still made to work hard for a win which not only maintains the pressure on Manchester City but ended Newcastle’s record-equalling run of six straight home victories.

James Milner marked a rare start, and a latest return to a former club, by creating the opening goal for the impressive Naby Keïta after emerging from a 50/50 challenge with Fabian Schär having won the ball. The pair’s collision left Newcastle’s centre half lying prone on the turf for several minutes which, from Howe’s viewpoint, was far from ideal.

How he could have done with Schär on his feet as Keïta subsequently dribbled his way around Martin Dúbravka before shooting through a hastily constructed, distinctly ersatz, wall of Newcastle defenders.

As Klopp punched thin air with glee, Howe looked distinctly unimpressed. Along with the majority of the 52,000-plus crowd packed inside St James’ Park, he appeared convinced Andre Marriner had been wrong to wave play on in the wake of Milner’s tackle. With a VAR review deciding otherwise, the goal stood and Schär eventually limped back into the heart of