Liverpool's New Stars Dazzle Anfield as Summer Signings Steal the Show Against Newcastle

An outstanding display from Hugo Ekitiké propelled Liverpool to a commanding 4–1 triumph over Newcastle United on Saturday evening.

Disappointed murmurs echoed around the packed Anfield stadium when Anthony Gordon found the net in the 36th minute, but the home side responded magnificently. Ekitiké seized command of the match and netted the equalizer just five minutes later, before striking his second to put Arne Slot's team ahead before the break.

Florian Wirtz added to the tally after halftime, and Ibrahima Konaté crowned an emotional comeback with his own strike to decisively claim all three points for Liverpool.

The reigning English champions have now finally claimed their inaugural Premier League victory of the new year, positioning themselves just one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Winners and Losers

Winners and Losers

Winners

Winners

Hugo Ekitiké entered the match without a league strike in 2026, and by halftime, he had netted twice. The forward challenged goalkeeper Nick Pope with a powerful effort early on that served as a preview of what was to follow. Ekitiké's double showcased all his finest attributes—his blistering speed, elegant finishing and unshakeable self-belief that can devastate even elite defenders.

Not long ago, Florian Wirtz faced heavy criticism for his sluggish beginning in Liverpool colors. However, the German now boasts nine goal involvements in his previous 10 outings for the Reds. Most players would have attempted a shot from his position in the 41st minute, but the creative midfielder lifted his head to locate his colleague instead, creating his side's first goal. It seemed fitting that he found the scoresheet himself after the interval.

Loser

Loser

Mohamed Salah remains a shadow of his previous brilliance. The Egyptian forward failed to establish any meaningful rhythm at Anfield; frequently appearing to occupy space without purpose on the right flank, and when he received possession, defenders easily dispossessed him or he misdirected his passes. Salah managed only 15 successful passes during his 84 minutes on the field.

While his assist for Wirtz's goal provided some redemption, moments later Salah squandered another scoring chance by hurrying his finish into the side netting. Beyond the statistical evidence, his display raises questions about whether he would retain his starting position if Liverpool weren't dealing with such an injury crisis.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs. Newcastle (4-2-3-1)

Liverpool Player Ratings vs. Newcastle (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Alisson—6.8: Suffered from Anthony Gordon's opener in the first period but remained solid otherwise. Can be grateful for the crossbar that denied Harvey Barnes's curling set piece.

RB: Dominik Szoboszlai—8.0: Performed excellently in the right-back role. Utilized his pace and incredible stamina to contribute in attack while tracking back defensively, matching the intense tempo throughout.

CB: Ibrahima Konaté—8.3: Appeared as if he'd never been away. Maintained his calm, excelled aerially and dominated physically whenever required. Capped his excellent return with a goal.

CB: Virgil van Dijk—7.5: Appeared more confident with Konaté alongside him. Helped restrict Newcastle's attacking trio to just two shots on target combined.

LB: Milos Kerkez—7.8: Got caught out defending against Gordon, who exploited the space with a clever finish through his legs. Made amends with an excellent cross for Ekitiké's second strike.

DM: Ryan Gravenberch—7.5: Impressive defensive work, complemented by his distribution and ball-carrying abilities. Attempted too many speculative long-range efforts that missed the mark.

DM: Alexis Mac Allister—7.3: Focused more on complaining to officials than influencing the game. Overshadowed by his midfield colleague's contributions.

RW: Mohamed Salah—7.6: Enhanced his impressive record against Newcastle with an assist. However, spurned multiple chances and was largely contained by Lewis Hall throughout the evening.

AM: Florian Wirtz—8.4: Demonstrated why he commanded an initial £100 million ($136.9 million) fee. His generosity in creating Ekitiké's goal before scoring himself in the second half further dispelled any remaining questions about his Premier League credentials.

LW: Cody Gakpo—8.1: The sole attacking player in red to finish without a goal or assist. Showed glimpses of quality in forward areas but couldn't produce a decisive moment.

ST: Hugo Ekitiké—8.9: Carried the team's attacking burden. Scored twice within two minutes, the second with a spectacular finish. Made dangerous runs throughout to exploit spaces behind Newcastle's backline.

SUB: Curtis Jones (84' for Ekitiké)—N/A

SUB: Federico Chiesa (84' for Salah)—N/A

SUB: Wataru Endo (87' for Wirtz)—N/A

Subs not used: Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK), Amara Nallo, Andy Robertson, Calvin Ramsay, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha.

What the Ratings Tell Us

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Liverpool's Dominant Win

The Numbers That Explain Liverpool's Dominant Win