Mohamed Salah scored for the seventh consecutive game as Liverpool moved back into second place with a 2-0 win over Newcastle in the Premier League.
It was not a vintage Reds performance but goals either side of half-time from Salah (40) and Sadio Mane (55) were more than enough to thwart a toothless Newcastle side, who remain just two points above the relegation zone.
The Toon were lucky not to have captain Jamaal Lascelles sent off late on for a professional foul on Salah.
Manchester United can leapfrog Liverpool back into the runners-up spot with a win over Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football.
Rafa Benitez was returning to Anfield as an opposition manager for a third time having never lost in the away dugout. However, it was a case a damage limitation from the first whistle for the visitors.
They held out until just before the break when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain burst onto a loose ball and slipped Salah in down the right where he slotted it under Martin Dubravka for his 32nd goal of the season.
The only glimpse of goal Newcastle conjured up came during injury time in the first-half when Loris Karius tipped over Mohamed Diame’s curling effort that was heading for the top corner.
The game was over as a contest when Mane scored the 200th goal of the Jurgen Klopp era on 55 minutes. Roberto Firmino did the damage with a classy through ball and Mane swept home his fifth goal in his last three games.
There was still time for Salah to breeze past Lascelles injury time but his shout for a penalty was turned down despite Lascelles looking like a guilty party.
Man of the match: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Fresh from his dynamic showing against West Ham, the England international sparked Liverpool into life with an assist for the key opening goal against a stubborn Newcastle defense. His energy through the middle of the park caused the visitors problems throughout and his quality on the ball stood him out from the crown on what was a stuttering performance from the Reds.
Opta stats:
-Liverpool have set a new Premier League record of most consecutive home games of scoring against a single opponent, netting in 22 consecutive matches against Newcastle at Anfield.
-No player within the big five European leagues has scored in more competitive club games than Salah (26 games) in 2017-18.
-The Egyptian has now scored against 14 of the 19 different opponents he’s faced in the Premier League this season.
-It took 97 games for Liverpool to reach 200 Premier League goals under Jürgen Klopp – the only managerial spells at a club to have reached 200 goals quicker were Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City (84 games) and Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool (96 games).
What’s next?
Liverpool are back in action on Tuesday night in the Champions League for their second-leg clash against FC Porto, holding a 5-0 advantage, while Newcastle host Southampton next Saturday at St James’ Park.
