Arne Slot sat in the main stand at Anfield on a night when Liverpool’s fans began celebrating their title. The moment Alexis Mac Allister swept a shot past Nick Pope for the Reds’ second goal, following Dominik Szoboszlai’s opener, the chorus of “we’re going to win the League” resonated through the stadium, sung by nearly everyone present.
Liverpool now boasts an impressive 13-point lead, a gap that spells trouble for their rivals. With just 10 games left, one might wonder why the Premier League doesn’t simply hand over the trophy now. Slot, serving a two-match touchline ban after receiving a red card in the Merseyside derby against Everton, observed from the stands, likely humming along with the jubilant crowd.
Despite Mo Salah not scoring for the ninth consecutive game—though he did provide an assist—Liverpool continued to dominate. For Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, this match marked one win in 21 against Liverpool, and he will be hoping for better fortune in the upcoming Carabao Cup final on March 16.
Newcastle handed a Premier League start to Callum Wilson, who recently returned from injury, but he missed a key opportunity to equalize before halftime. While Liverpool remained comfortable, Newcastle did improve in the second half.
All eyes were on Salah, who is out of contract at the season’s end. In a TV interview earlier that day, he stated there was still no news regarding a new deal but declared this his best campaign, having hit the 30-goal mark for the fifth time.
Salah emphasized his role in helping teammates like Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo improve. In a controversial moment, he thought he earned a penalty within three minutes, only for referee Stuart Attwell to penalize him instead. Newcastle escaped that decision as left-back Lewis Hall initiated the contact.
Liverpool’s dominance led to an inevitable opening goal from Szoboszlai, who created space and threaded a shot through defenders Tolani and Burn. Diaz played a crucial role but was let down by Kostas Tsimikas, who, despite a dazzling run, failed to convert a good chance.
Newcastle had opportunities, with Wilson notably missing a clear chance. As Liverpool struggled defensively in the second half, both Virgil van Dijk and Wilson required treatment after a head clash.
However, as Newcastle gained momentum, they were punished when Sandro Tonali lost possession. Mac Allister seized the opportunity, advancing unchallenged before exchanging passes with Salah and firing a shot past Pope.
The celebrations at Anfield truly began, and for Slot, with his team eliminated from the FA Cup, attention quickly shifted to the Champions League tie against PSG in Paris on Tuesday—a daunting challenge for the group that finished top of the table.