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Speaking earlier this season, Dominik Szoboszlai admitted he had been feeling too chatty during his debut campaign when bigging up Liverpool’s chances of claiming an unprecedented trophy quadruple.

And as the Reds’ Premier League title challenge has reached a pivotal point, so Szoboszlai has stepped up in emphatic fashion.

After his goal and assist in Sunday’s memorable win at outgoing champions Manchester City, the 24-year-old this time set Liverpool on their way to ultimately comfortable victory over Newcastle United with a composed first-time finish.



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While Arne Slot will welcome the response to his previous call of an increased threat in the final third from the player, Szoboszlai has always been about more than that at Liverpool, his relentless energy and ability to hound mistakes out of opponents one of his key attributes and why he has become such a favourite with supporters.

Like a certain previous Liverpool number eight, the bigger the stage, the more Szoboszlai revels.

This, though, was an evening when the engine room produced as a whole, Ryan Gravenberch continuing to play his way back to form while Alexis Mac Allister had a hand in the opener before initiating and finishing the second in style.

Diaz leaves Gordon in shade

One of the biggest cheers of the evening at Anfield wasn’t for a goal

And it encapsulated a fine display from the Colombian winger, who has rediscovered his verve in recent outings after being restored to his more accustomed left-wing role.

Having scored his first Premier League goal of the year at Wolves earlier in the month, Diaz’s run and pass for the opener was his first top-flight assist since the 2-2 draw at Arsenal back in October.

Newcastle dangerman Anthony Gordon, the player who would have greatly challenged Diaz for a starting role had his move to Anfield gone through last summer, was subdued by comparison.

And on the opposite flank, while Mohamed Salah fell short of scoring for a ninth successive appearance, sheer persistence meant the Egyptian further bolstered his numbers with an assist for the second goal.

Slot in the naughty corner

There was little surprise at the news earlier in the day both Liverpool boss Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff had been banned from the touchline and fined after their red cards at Everton a fortnight ago.

But it did lead to the prospect of assistant coach John Heitinga, hardly backwards in coming forwards during his playing days, facing off against perennial Newcastle pest Jason Tindall in the technical area.

In the end, everyone was on their best behaviour while, in the naughty corner, Slot was sat in the directors’ area in the Main Stand alongside Hulshoff

Only when Mac Allister put Liverpool two ahead did the Reds boss allow himself to cut loose in celebration.

While this game was being built up as a dress rehearsal for the League Cup final, that was largely rendered redundant when it emerged Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was missing with a groin problem.

But if Isak is expected to be okay for Wembley, Liverpool know Slot will be back on the touchline for the big day.


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