Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike struck twice in two minutes to spark Arne Slot's side to a 4-1 comeback win over Newcastle Unitedon Saturday for the champions' first Premier League victory in over a month.Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate scored in the second half to help Liverpool climb to fifth in the table with 39 points, 14 behind leaders Arsenal, as Newcastle fell to 10th on 33.
Newcastle started briskly and Anthony Gordon scored his first league goal in open play for more than a year in the 36th minute. But Ekitike turned the game on its head with goals in the 41st and 43rd minutes, scoring his first with a stab home at the near post after Wirtz pulled it back for the Frenchman.
Liverpool fans were still celebrating when Ekitike latched onto a ball down the line from Milos Kerkez, and poked it into the far corner past goalkeeper Nick Pope. Wirtz struck in the 67th minute with a shot in off the far post after a one-two with Mohamed Salah and Konate scored deep into stoppage time to complete the rout.
Liverpool vs Newcastle latest updates
- GOAL! Konate adds fourth
- GOAL! Wirtz makes it three
- CLOSE! Ekitike misses huge chance
- GOAL! Ekitike turns game on its head
- GOAL! Ekitike equalises
Fan reaction
22:37 , Oli GentWhat a Night & what a game! The atmosphere from the start was absolutely brilliant, the team response after losing to Bournemouth just shows how much we hurt. Truly proud of Ibou, but also the absolutely excellent performances from Ali, Soboszlais, Ekitike & Wirtz. #LIVNEW #YNWA pic.twitter.com/qfXFCEbGGV
— Adam (@IamtheadamLFC) January 31, 2026
Fan reaction
22:37 , Oli GentI TOLD Y'ALL ABOUT THE SIMILARITIES.
— Bishop 👑 (@Bishop_Yayo) January 31, 2026
I TOLD Y'ALL... I DID!!
HUGO HAS CHANGED OUR BROKE LIVES MAN #LIVNEW pic.twitter.com/Na9UgwsObt
FT: Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle
21:57 , Oli GentThere we have it.
On the balance of the Liverpool’s resurgence, a deserved win.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE action.
Goal! Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle
21:55 , Oli Gent90+4 mins: It’s four, and it’s Konate! He knocks home on an emotional moment for the defender after the passing of his father.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:52 , Oli Gent90+2 mins: Close! The Liverpool corner comes out to Konate who swings a leg at it, and his effort is deflected behind off Woltemade.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:52 , Oli Gent90 mins: Five added minutes.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:48 , Oli Gent87 mins: Wirtz is replaced by Endo.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:47 , Oli Gent86 mins: Burn is booked for saying a few too many words to the referee.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:46 , Oli Gent84 mins: Will Osula replaces Trippier.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:44 , Oli Gent83 mins: Curtis Jones is on for the hosts, amid links to Inter Milan. Could this be his last game in the red shirt for a while...? He takes Mo Salah’s place, while Federico Chiesa is on for Ekitike.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:39 , Oli Gent79 mins: Gordon has his first real sighter of the second half, but he skews his shot wide of the target.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:38 , Oli Gent77 mins: The hosts are in their groove now as Gravenberch looks to penetrate the heart of the Newcastle defence with a weaving run, but he’s stopped in his tracks by Hall well.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:34 , Oli Gent73 mins: Barnes is replaced by Yoane Wissa, Nick Woltemade comes on for Willock, and Anthony Elanga comes off for Jacob Murphy.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:31 , Oli Gent70 mins: Close! Salah hares through on goal, but pokes his effort wide of the near post!
Goal! Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
21:29 , Oli Gent67 mins: There’s number three, and it’s Florian Wirtz. The Reds have a third, as the German sweeps home, picked out by Mo Salah.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
21:25 , Oli Gent64 mins: Good strength from Konate on Gordon as the Newcastle forward looked to break away. Well defended.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
21:21 , Oli Gent59 mins: Great save! Alisson makes a huge stop as Barnes catches it really well. It falls to the winger just inside the box, and his left-footed strike is kept out well by the Liverpool keeper.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
21:20 , Oli Gent58 mins: Mac Allister is also booked as he hauls down Ramsey.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
21:17 , Oli Gent56 mins: Thiaw gets a yellow after a pull of Gakpo’s shirt.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
21:15 , Oli Gent54 mins: Big challenge from Burn on the slide as he goes through Salah to win the ball. Fair challenge, says the referee, and we play on.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
21:12 , Oli Gent51 mins: What a chance! Burn makes a fatal error, missing the ball after Szoboszlai punts it forward into the right channel. Ekitike bursts onto it and is through on goal, but he makes a mess of the finish! He could have had a hat-trick.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
21:10 , Oli Gent49 mins: Liverpool with the first meaningful attack of the half as they stream forward with Salah, who receives it from Gakpo. He feeds Szoboszlai inside, and the shot from the Hungarian takes a deflection, but Pope keeps it out.
Kick off!
21:06 , Oli Gent46 mins: We’re back underway.
HT: Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
20:47 , Oli GentThere’s the interval, and what a first half.
The Reds have shown great character and quality to turn this game around.
What will the second period have in store?
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
20:47 , Oli Gent45+2 mins: Salah whips in a Liverpool corner and Ekitike meets it with a free header, but he nods well wide!
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
20:46 , Oli Gent45 mins: Five added minutes.
Goal! Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
20:44 , Oli Gent43 mins: It’s another, and the Reds are ahead thanks to Ekitike once more. That is a terrific finish after a great run. A lovely pass picks him out in the left channel, and he burns past Thiaw and takes it early, arrowing it into the far corner.
Goal! Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle
20:42 , Oli Gent41 mins: Liverpool are level and it’s Ekitike who has it. That is sublime from Wirtz, who weaves his way through, wriggling into a pocket to find the Frenchman, who slots home past Pope.
Liverpool 0-1 Newcastle
20:40 , Oli Gent41 mins: Gordon is looking dangerous once more, getting behind in the Liverpool backline, this time into the right channel. He’s isolated, so attempts a cross-shot from the angle, which Alisson tips clear.
Liverpool 0-1 Newcastle
20:39 , Oli Gent39 mins: How do Liverpool respond? It’s a sucker punch that has been coming. Can they equalise before the break?
Goal! Liverpool 0-1 Newcastle
20:37 , Oli Gent36 mins: It’s there, and Newcastle are ahead, deservedly! Anthony Gordon has it, working a yard of space to take aim and slot into the far corner beyond Alisson! He was picked out by Willock after Barnes couldn’t take it under his spell.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:36 , Oli Gent36 mins: Gravenberch takes a speculative shot from about 30 yards, which cannons off Dan Burn.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:33 , Oli Gent33 mins: Much better from Liverpool as Ekitike is played through, and he looks to poke one past Pope. The visiting goalkeeper keeps it out, however. Corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:31 , Oli Gent31 mins: A really lively first half-hour where Liverpool just have not got going. The visitors are carrying the fight to the home side here.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:28 , Oli Gent28 mins: Close! Hall whips in a great ball from the left, and it just evades Burn at the far post as Thiaw throws himself at it at the near post.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:26 , Oli Gent26 mins: Off the post! Hall and Trippier dummy taking it, leaving it for Barnes to hit it... and he crashes the woodwork!
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:25 , Oli Gent25 mins: Free kick, Newcastle. Barnes cuts in after receiving a cross-field pass from Gordon. He jinks inside of Gravenberch, who fells him. A chance for the visitors here from about 20 yards...
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:21 , Oli Gent22 mins: The corner is whipped in and Alisson comes but doesn’t get there as Gakpo flicks it behind for another from the other side.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:20 , Oli Gent21 mins: Gordon this time makes a burst down the left, and he looks for the touchline to get a cross in towards Barnes. Van Dijk throws himself at it, however, and the visitors have a corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:19 , Oli Gent20 mins: Salah is released down the right as Liverpool counter at pace. He’s through on goal - at an angle, admittedly - but Trippier gets back to recover well.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:18 , Oli Gent18 mins: Good save! Ekitike has his first sighting of goal as it breaks for him on the edge of the Newcastle box. He strikes, but Pope is equal to it to hold.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:15 , Oli Gent15 mins: A nice move from Gakpo to set Liverpool off on their first meaningful attack of the evening, but he’s stopped in his tracks by Thiaw. Good defending.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:12 , Oli Gent12 mins: Yellow card for Gordon as he presses Alisson high. The forward is late with his challenge and catches the keeper.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:08 , Oli Gent8 mins: Three Newcastle corners so far in this game and they’re putting some pressure on the Liverpool defence. Hall whips in an inswinger from the right and Burn leaps to meet it, but the free kick goes against the big defender, who is adjudged to have fouled Alisson.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:05 , Oli Gent5 mins: Early Newcastle pressure as Gordon hares down the left looking for a long punt into the channel, but he’s stopped in his tracks by van Dijk. The visitors get the ball back, however, and have had the majority of possession in these opening exchanges.
Liverpool 0-0 Newcastle
20:03 , Oli Gent3 mins: Some tactical observations for you. Anthony Gordon is the centre-forward for the visitors, chasing lost causes into the channels with the pace and trickery of Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga either side of him. It’s looking to be quite a counter-attacking set-up from Howe.
Kick off!
20:00 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning
19:55 , Oli GentThe players are on their way out, and we’re about to get underway.
10 minutes to kick off
19:50 , Oli GentWho will win this one this evening?
High praise from Stevie G
19:45 , Oli Gent“I love him, just not tonight!” 😂
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 31, 2026
High praise from Steven Gerrard, who rates Eddie Howe as the best English manager right now 👏
🎙️ @lynseyhipgrave1 | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/NNIlSUl8Pr
Howe's pre-match thoughts
19:40 , Oli Gent“This is a brilliant test for us tonight”
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 31, 2026
Eddie Howe on the importance of momentum as Newcastle face a tough run of fixtures 👀
🎙️ @julesbreach | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ppnF74q0YM
How to watch reminder
19:31 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7pm GMT ahead of the 8pm GMT kick off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the discovery+ app and website.
Stoppage time at Stamford Bridge
19:22 , Oli GentA tight game that’s in the balance...
Fan reaction
19:14 , Oli GentKonate back is massive, have to win
— Laith (@LFC_Laith) January 31, 2026
Fan reaction
19:00 , Oli GentSzoboszlai back to right back 😢
— John O Sullivan (@Corballyred) January 31, 2026
Our bench as well🫢
Serious questions around the squad depth 👍
Confirmed Newcastle XI
18:55 , Oli GentNewcastle XI: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Willock, Ramsey; Barnes, Gordon, Elanga
Subs: Ramsdale, Botman, Wissa, Osula, J. Murphy, Woltemade, A. Murphy, Shahar, Miley
Confirmed Liverpool XI
18:52 , Oli GentLiverpool XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Djik, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Chiesa, Robertson, Jones, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha, Nallo
Newcastle lineup
18:47 , Oli GentHOWAY THE LADS 👊 pic.twitter.com/4Ho1wwQ2iM
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) January 31, 2026
Liverpool lineup
18:46 , Oli GentHere’s how the hosts start this one...
The Reds to take on Newcastle at Anfield 💪🔴 #LIVNEW
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 31, 2026
Liverpool predicted XI
18:40 , Oli GentHere’s how I think the Reds could line up with five minutes to go before team news...
Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Djik, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
On the move?
18:25 , Oli GentA Liverpool star could be leaving the club on loan after a European giant made a move...
Under the Anfield lights tonight 🏟️✨ #LIVNEW pic.twitter.com/z16e9BrjDC
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 31, 2026
Arsenal thrash Leeds to move seven points clear
18:10 , Oli GentArsenal beat Leeds 4-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points earlier this afternoon.
Chelsea vs West Ham live!
18:05 , Oli GentIn the capital, Chelsea take on West Ham looking to close the gap on the top four themselves.
Match odds
18:00 , Oli GentLiverpool to win: 8/11
Newcastle to win: 11/4
Draw: 23/10
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Head to head
17:55 , Oli GentLiverpool wins: 95
Newcastle wins: 51
Draws: 46
Standard Sport prediction
17:50 , Oli GentTwo teams hit hard with injuries, but both their cavalier styles of play should make this a fun watch.
There will be no Alexander Isak for the Reds, so no hostile reception from the travelling Toon Army.
Don’t let that take away from the competitiveness of this contest, however, as a win would go a long way for both managers in their pursuit of European football next term.
Despite their defensive concerns, we expect that Liverpool will have enough to get the job done.
Liverpool to win, 2-1.
Newcastle team news
17:45 , Oli GentNewcastle, meanwhile, will be hoping captain Bruno Guimaraes returns to action after he was not risked off the bench against PSG.
Joelinton has suffered a groin injury himself and is out for “weeks” according to Eddie Howe, while Tino Livramento’s hamstring injury that he sustained earlier this month will have him out for approximately eight weeks.
Liverpool team news
17:40 , Oli GentArne Slot was forced to field Ryan Gravenberch at centre-back against Qarabag amid a real injury crisis at the heart of defence.
Virgil van Dijk was the only available senior central defender in midweek, with Joe Gomez out injured and Ibrahima Konate unavailable after the passing of his father.
Konate will, however, be available for selection against Newcastle. As will Curtis Jones after he missed the win over Qarabag through illness.
Jeremie Frimpong, though, has been ruled out for “weeks” after limping off inside the opening five minutes on Wednesday night, joining Conor Bradley on the treatment table, along with former Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.
How to watch
17:35 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7pm GMT ahead of the 8pm GMT kick off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the discovery+ app and website.
Hello and welcome!
17:30 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool’s Premier League encounter with Newcastle.
This is should be a real competitive battle as the pair continue their pursuit of Champions League football.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 8pm.
