Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz inspired Liverpool to a vital 4-1 win over Newcastle, lifting the Reds to fifth in the Premier League table.
HUGO Ekitike and Florian Wirtz showcased their burgeoning partnership in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield.
The win ended Liverpool’s five-game winless league run and moved them up to fifth place.
The hosts fell behind to Anthony Gordon’s first-half strike.
Ekitike transformed the game with two goals in two minutes just before the interval.
The French forward first tapped home after a brilliant Wirtz run and pass.
He then outpaced the Newcastle defence to latch onto a Milos Kerkez long ball and fire in his second.
Wirtz extended the lead in the second half with a fine finish from a Mohamed Salah pass.
Ibrahima Konate completed the scoring, emotionally rolling the ball into an empty net after a Nick Pope error in his first game back following compassionate leave.
The result leaves Newcastle in 10th place, six points behind Liverpool.
Eddie Howe’s side have now failed to win in their last 30 league visits to Anfield.
The performance offered Liverpool fans a glimpse of a promising future, with their two big-money signings finally delivering.
Ekitike, a £69 million signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, and Wirtz, a £100 million arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, combined decisively to change the match.
