Liverpool Stun Newcastle With Ekitike And Wirtz In Standout Performance

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Liverpool eased pressure in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield, ending a five-match winless run in the competition. Hugo Ekitike scored twice, Florian Wirtz added another, and Ibrahima Konate also netted, as Arne Slot’s side claimed a first league win of 2026 and produced one of their most controlled displays of the campaign.

The result arrived after Liverpool’s longest Premier League slump since 2021 and kept Newcastle’s inconsistent form in focus. Mohamed Salah also reached a unique landmark, becoming the first player in Premier League history to register at least 10 goals and 10 assists against a single club in the competition, underlining sustained influence against Newcastle.

Newcastle struck first during an open first half. Harvey Barnes hit the frame of the goal before Anthony Gordon finished neatly in the 36th minute. Liverpool replied almost at once as Wirtz created space and supplied Ekitike for a sharp equaliser. Barely two minutes later, Ekitike struck again with an outside-of-the-boot effort beyond Nick Pope.

Liverpool tightened control after the interval, with Wirtz switching from provider to finisher. Wirtz arrived in the area midway through the second period and swept in after a lay-off from Salah. Ekitike later departed to a standing ovation, before Konate, recently back following the death of Konate’s father earlier in January, forced in a fourth after Pope mishandled a late set-piece.

The pairing of Ekitike and Wirtz continued a strong statistical link. Both combined repeatedly across attacking zones and have become Liverpool’s most productive partnership this season. Their understanding has produced goals in different competitions and shaped the outcome against Newcastle, where their movement and decision-making exposed defensive gaps with regularity.

Data from the match showed clear attacking superiority. Liverpool generated 1.95 expected goals, compared with Newcastle’s 0.33. Ekitike alone accounted for 1.06 xG, reflecting frequent high-quality chances. The forward attempted six shots, three more than any other player on the pitch, while Wirtz created two chances, ranking joint-third among Liverpool players on the night.

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Ekitike’s brace lifted the forward to 10 Premier League goals for the season. At 23 years and 225 days, Ekitike is Liverpool’s youngest player to reach double figures in a league campaign since Michael Owen in 2000-01, when Owen achieved the mark at 21 years and 138 days. The return further underlines Ekitike’s growing importance in Slot’s attacking plans.

Since registering a first Premier League goal involvement for Liverpool on December 20, Wirtz has been central to Liverpool’s output. Wirtz has contributed to nine goals in all competitions during that period, with six goals and three assists, more than any other Premier League player. The display against Newcastle maintained that run and supported Liverpool’s attempt to stabilise league form.