Jurgen Klopp’s side ended their year with yet another lacklustre performance on the road, with the showdown at St. James’ Park finishing in a 0-0 stalemate.
A second successive draw in Premier League football meant that the Merseysiders lead the league standings prior to the turn of the year. but a three-point lead over Manchester United seems feeble considering Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men enjoy a game in hand.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
The visitors were thrown on the backfoot as a Newcastle United attack in the opening minutes of the game nearly found the back of the net through Callum Wilson’s prowess, but Fabinho’s diversion was essential to avoid an early lead for Steve Bruce’s side.
On the other end of the pitch, Klopp’s men had their fair chances through on goal, but a mix of Newcastle United shot-stopper Karl Darlow’s brilliant goalkeeping, coupled with a poor show of finishing by the Liverpool FC forwards, left the Merseysiders in the hunt for the opening goal of the match.
Salah found himself in a one-on-one situation with Darlow after the former was set up with a superb lobbed pass from Jordan Henderson, only for the Reds star attacker to force a really good save from the Magpies No.1.
The Liverpool FC main man had another glorious opportunity to put his team in the pole position when Salah latched onto a well-worked move by Firmino but Salah was able to put away his shot into the far corner as wished for by the Egyptian.
On either side of Firmino and Mane going close to finding the back of the net in the final third of the game, Alisson Becker made a fantastic save to deny Ciaran Clark’s headed effort from giving the hosts a chance to secure all three points.
As a resilient Newcastle United defensive display prevented any Reds attack to materialise into a goal, Klopp’s men had to leave St. James Park with a sole point in the bag on the back of what was a continuation of Liverpool FC’s unflattering run of performances away from home.
