Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England.placeholder image
Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 31, 2026 in Liverpool, England. | Getty Images
Liverpool defeated Newcastle United 4-1 on Saturday evening as they looked to have put their miserable Premier League form behind them
Liverpool gave their hopes of finishing in the top four of the Premier League a huge boost on Saturday night with a 4-1 win over Newcastle United at Anfield.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring for the Magpies on 36 minutes after being involved in an early off-the-ball incident with Alexis Mac Allister and earning an early yellow card for a late challenge on Alisson Becker.
However, Newcastle’s lead last just five minutes as Florian Wirtz danced into the box and cut the ball back for Hugo Ekitike to finish. Just two minutes later the Frenchman was played through by Milos Kerkez and he produced a brilliant finish across Nick Pope to put the host in front.
Wirtz got a goal of his with 67 minutes on the clock as his he guided an effort into the corner at the Kop end after a pass from Mohamed Salah. Ibrahima Konate capped off the victory with a goal of his own in stoppage time.
It was a highly-emotional moment for the French defender, who was playing for the first time since the death of his father. The support for the defender from the stands was almost tangible throughout the evening, as he produced what was quite easily his best performance of the season.
Wirtz’s assist for Ekitike’s first goal means that the pair have now combined directly with each other for six goals this campaign in all competitions. No other Premier League duo have combined for more goals together, officially making Wirtz and Ekitike the most productive duo currently playing in the English top flight
Former Liverpool and Chelsea player Joe Cole said after the game: “It’s a huge win. A fantastic performance. Liverpool were outstanding. Ekitike, Konate, Wirtz. So much flow, they looked like they could score at will.
“When it clicks for this team they are really dangerous.”
Speaking about Wirtz, who now has six goals in his last 10 games, before the win Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard said: "Everyone knew it was definitely going to come, it was just about when.
"The good thing about Liverpool fans is they're very patient, especially with young talent.
"What I will give him, is that even when he wasn't firing on all cylinders early on, he still had moments of brilliance, he still had little moments where you thought, 'Hello, that's going to come, once he can find his feet consistently.'
"It also looks like they've built him up in the gym now. He looks like he's carrying on a few more kilos to me, he's used to the duels and the challenges from behind. Make no mistake – we've got a real talent on our hands."
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