Hugo Ekitike inspires Liverpool to Newcastle rout

Criticised recently for a lack of attacking edge, Slot's side produced their sharpest display of 2026 at Anfield, overwhelming Newcastle with pace, movement and confidence after falling behind early. The result ended a five-game league winless run and moved Liverpool above Manchester United, to within a point of Chelsea in fourth.

Anthony Gordon briefly threatened to spoil the party by firing Newcastle ahead - his first goal from open play in a year - but Liverpool's response was immediate and emphatic. With Florian Wirtz pulling the strings, the hosts seized control before half-time through a blistering two-goal burst from Ekitike.

Wirtz danced through a cluster of defenders to tee up the French striker for the equaliser, before Ekitike struck again moments later, collecting Milos Kerkez's pass and finishing ruthlessly across Nick Pope. It was a reminder of exactly what Newcastle missed out on after failing to land the former Eintracht Frankfurt forward across multiple transfer windows.

Newcastle, already stretched after a draining midweek trip to Paris Saint-Germain and missing the injured Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, struggled to match Liverpool's tempo. That imbalance grew after the break as Mohamed Salah and Wirtz combined neatly for a third goal that effectively ended the contest.

An emotional finale followed when Ibrahima Konate, starting for the first time since returning from compassionate leave following the death of his father, added a fourth from close range late on. The defender's tearful celebration underlined the significance of the night for both player and club.

For Slot, the performance offered timely proof that Liverpool's attacking identity remains intact, with Ekitike and Wirtz now emerging as one of the league's most productive partnerships. For Newcastle, who have not won a league match at Anfield since 1994, the defeat saw them slip to 10th and extended their troubling form away from home.

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