Emdad Rahman
In a Boxing Day cracker Liverpool trounced Newcastle 4-0 to extend their Premier League lead to six points.
After a 12th top division clean sheet the Reds will go into the new year as leaders after routing Rafa Benitez’s Magpies at Anfield.
Dejan Lovren started proceedings with an excellent half volley right after Joselu Sanmartín missed a header at 0-0.
Early in the second half a tug on Mohamed Salah by Craig Dummett led to a penalty being awarded by match referee Graham Scott. The Egyptian forward despatched the spot kick volley past Martin Dúbravka to double the lead.
Xherdan Shaqiri from a Trent Alexander-Arnold pass and substitute Fabinho made sure Jurgen Klopp’s men end the calendar year at the top of the table and send the majority of the 53,000 crowd home happy.
With champions Manchester City losing 2-1 to Leicester at the King Power Stadium, Tottenham comprehensively beat Bournemouth 5-0 at Wembley to go second and now trail Liverpool by six points.