Liverpool FC kept Manchester City at arm's length with an easy win over Newcastle United.
Rafa Benitez was the hero at Anfield and he never looked like upsetting that status by pulling off an upset on this return to Merseyside, with his side totally outmatched by Jurgen Klopp's table-topping Reds.
Dejan Lovren scored a dazzling half-volley early in proceedings to lend a sense of calm to the hosts' performance, preventing Newcastle from simply sitting deep and maddening them.
Newcastle struggled to get out of their half, let alone create a chance, and when Mo Salah won and converted a penalty in the opening minute of the second half the result was never in doubt.
Xherdan Shaqiri, Liverpool's most dangerous player, scored a third and then Fabinho added a fourth to fully deflate Newcastle.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
